Thoughts on Charles Bukowski

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I'm really developing a love for the work of Charles Bukowski. I'm primarily interested in his short stories, but I'm very fond of his poetry as well. Even some of his paintings are pretty interesting.

A little backstory...

When I was very young, probably 10 or 11, I happened upon my father's secret stash of porn magazines. Among them were a few issues of Hustler. While I was interested in the pictures, my love of reading drew me to a few short stories contained within. This was probably a clue as to where my sexual orientation would lie in the future becuase I was far more captivated by these stories than by the gynecological views of the female anatomy. Yeah, I was a strange kid.

Anyway, it wasn't until recently that I decided to learn more about the man who's stories caught my attention as a young'n. And the more I find, the more I am drawn to his work. I thought I would ask and see if there are any other fans of his work here and if you have a particular piece or two that you are particularly fond of.

Hopefully, I'm not the only fan of his on the boards.

[€uroMeinke]

Hell No!

Love Bukowski, and have lots.

The noteworthy event recently is that his widow just donated his papers to the Huntington Library. What a kick in the pants it will be for them.

Lisa and I got a chance to see a play at LATC put together from his works that was one theater experience that I'll never forget - the seats were removed and replaced with old matresses, plumbing fixtures, and oh yeah lots of beer and red wine. It was like being at a party in someone's garage as the actors were intersperced throughout the space.

A lot of his writting has been released posthumasly - aparently as he was writting his stuff he would tuck away the "good stuff" to publish when he was dead, thus some of his best works are coming out now. I keep a book of his poetry by my bed tofill in the gaps of my usual reading.

Love his stuff.

[Alex]

I have no appreciation for poetry and Bukowski is no different in that regard. I wouldn't say I'm a "fan" but I've enjoyed some of his non-peotry.

[tracilicious]

I've never read any, but I do like the Modest Mouse song by the same name.

[€uroMeinke]

I have no appreciation for poetry and Bukowski is no different in that regard. I wouldn't say I'm a "fan" but I've enjoyed some of his non-peotry.

Of course, much of Bukowski's poetry reads like short stories, so I really find little difference between the two.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Of course, much of Bukowski's poetry reads like short stories, so I really find little difference between the two.

That's what I have noticed as well. I'm a bit ignorant towards poetry but I find his to be interesting.

Thanks for the info, btw. And that play sounds like it was a very cool experience! :)

[Not Afraid]

Bokowski was a genius, imho. His writing is so raw and, well, nasty at times, I love it!

The play we saw was one of the best pieces of theater I've ever seen. I miss LATC and their season subscriptions. They did some brilliant stuff. I believe that is where we first saw Reza Abdoh (http://alpertawards.org/archive/winner95/abdoh.html) as well.

[Snowflake]

All his work will be housed at The Huntington (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060615/ap_en_ot/books_bukowski_donation;_ylt=AjasXV8pL049ZCNO3Yiku cRxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I thought it might be appropriate to share something of his that I really liked.

hello, how are you?

this fear of being what they are:
dead.

at least they are not out on the street, they
are careful to stay indoors, those
pasty mad who sit alone before their tv sets,
their lives full of canned, mutilated laughter.

their ideal neighborhood
of parked cars
of little green lawns
of little homes
the little doors that open and close
as their relatives visit
throughout the holidays
the doors closing
behind the dying who die so slowly
behind the dead who are still alive
in your quiet average neighborhood
of winding streets
of agony
of confusion
of horror
of fear
of ignorance.

a dog standing behind a fence.

a man silent at the window.

[Not Afraid]

Oooh! Chris, post the shower one.

[€uroMeinke]

Oooh! Chris, post the shower one.
By request but behind a spoiler tag due to not-work-safe language


the shower

we like to shower afterwards
(I like the water hotter than she)
and her face is always soft and peaceful
and she'll wash me first
spread the soap over my balls
lift the balls
squeeze them,
then was the c*ck:
"hey, this thing is still hard!"
then get all the hair down there, —
the belly, the back, the neck, the legs,
I grin grin grin,
and then I wash her...
first the c*nt, I
stand behind her, my c*ck in the cheeks of her a$$
I gently soap up the c*nt hairs,
wash there with a soothing motion,
I linger perhaps longer than necessary,
then I get the backs of the legs, the a$$,
the back, the neck, I turn her, kiss her,
soap up the breasts, get them and the belly, the neck,
the fornts of the legs, the ankles, the feet,
and then the c*nt, once more, for luck...
another kiss, and she gets out first,
toweling, sometimes singing while I stay in
turn the water on hotter
feeling the good times of love's miracle
I then get out...
it is usually mid-afternoon and quiet,
and getting dressed we talk about what else
there might be to do,
but being together solves most of it,
in fact, solves all of it
for as long as those things stay solved
in the history of woman and
man, it's different for each
better and worse for each —
for me it's splendid enough to remember
past the marching of armies
and the horses that walk the streets outside
past the memories of pain and defeat and unhappiness:
Linda you brought it to me,
when you take it away
do it slowly and easily
make it as if I were dying in my sleep instead of in
my life, amen.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

That's not work safe? Can't imagine why... ;)

Thanks for sharing!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Bukowski's poetry rocks. A friend introduced me to him and in reading his stuff realized that what he does is what I wish to do with my poems. Real, raw, and full of power in so few words.

:snap: