Today's poet

[stevefoster]

The Bukowski is fantastic. Thanks for that freckle!

Yes, no kidding it's long freckle

[Derby Tup]

Yes, no kidding it's long freckle

I resisted the temptation to quote freckle's post

[Mossdog]

Bukowski anyone? its long...but good!...(so stick with it!!!!)

Let it enfold you

[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Arial]e.......
foot on the gas
pedal,
I entered the world
once
more,
drove down the
hill
past the houses
full and empty
of
people,
I saw the mailman,
honked,
he waved
back
at me.



Charles Bukowski

Totally bloody brilliant - Bukowski has been a favourite of mine since I first encountered him on this thread

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/eulog...ell-of-a-dame/

Can't remember who first posted the poem DT?HHH?Merry? or?, but he's up there with my favourites. Thanks freckle, I'd not read that one before.

[Derby Tup]

I think freckle was first to post Bukowski poetry. I read some of his I think autobiographical prose years ago. A lot of it's bleak and relates to what he thankfully seemed to have moved away from in tonight's verse. iirc the Mickey Rouke film Barfly is based on his life. I saw it when it came out but haven't seen it since

[freckle]

aye it was me i think...

fancy some more angst?......bukowski style?

Now

I sit here on the 2nd floor
hunched over in yellow
pjyamas
still pretending to be
a writer.
some damned gall,
at 71,
my brain cells eaten
away by
life.
rows of books
behind me,
I scratch my thinning
hair
and search for the
word.

Charles Bukowski

[Old Whippet]

I think freckle was first to post Bukowski poetry. I read some of his I think autobiographical prose years ago. A lot of it's bleak and relates to what he thankfully seemed to have moved away from in tonight's verse. iirc the Mickey Rouke film Barfly is based on his life. I saw it when it came out but haven't seen it since

I really enjoyed the Bukowski - have come across some of his earthier works, but this reflective piece is a treat.
In a competetive moment I was going to post Oliver Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village' that was inflicted on us for A level, at 430 lines might have set some record. You'll be pleased I didn't....though it does have the line "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife"...which is so good it cropped up elsewhere much later.

Anyway, much more importantly, Merry - congratulations!

[Alf]

or listening to the
rain in the
dark.
the less I needed
the better I
felt.

Thanks freckle I have not come across his work before.

[stevefoster]

I really enjoyed the Bukowski - have come across some of his earthier works, but this reflective piece is a treat.
In a competetive moment I was going to post Oliver Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village' that was inflicted on us for A level, at 430 lines might have set some record. You'll be pleased I didn't....though it does have the line "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife"...which is so good it cropped up elsewhere much later.

Anyway, much more importantly, Merry - congratulations!

Cheers OW, freckle and Mossdog for the earlier congrats
Been looking at Bukowski and found this, like it, long walks at night beat going to the pub then home for an argument

And The Moon And The Stars And The World


Long walks at night--
that's what good for the soul:
peeking into windows
watching tired housewives
trying to fight off
their beer-maddened husbands.

Charles Bukowski

[freckle]

i love that poem merry...nice one

Cheers OW, freckle and Mossdog for the earlier congrats
Been looking at Bukowski and found this, like it, long walks at night beat going to the pub then home for an argument

And The Moon And The Stars And The World


Long walks at night--
that's what good for the soul:
peeking into windows
watching tired housewives
trying to fight off
their beer-maddened husbands.


Charles Bukowski

[Mossdog]

Constantly Risking Absurdity

Lawrence Ferlinghetti


Constantly risking absurdity

and death

whenever he performs

above the heads

of his audience

the poet like an acrobat

climbs on rime

to a high wire of his own making

and balancing on eyebeams

above a sea of faces

paces his way

to the other side of the day

performing entrechats

and sleight-of-foot tricks

and other high theatrics

and all without mistaking

any thing

for what it may not be

For he's the super realist

who must perforce perceive

taut truth

before the taking of each stance or step

in his supposed advance

toward that still higher perch

where Beauty stands and waits

with gravity

to start her death-defying leap

And he

a little charleychaplin man

who may or may not catch

her fair eternal form

spreadeagled in the empty air

of existence