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The Flash of Lightning Behind the Mountain: New Poems
The second of five new books of unpublished poems from the late, great, Charles Bukowski, America's most imitated and influential poet -- 143 never-before-seen works of gritty, amusing, and inspiring verse.
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 4th 2005
by Ecco
(first published December 23rd 2003)
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Dykes aren't supposed to read bukowski. Dykes are supposed to read feminist lit and marxist critiques of gender roles and transgender authors who dismantle the patriarchy and gender paradigms. We're supposed to like postmodern theory with too many hyphens breaking up words in clever and challenging ways. We're supposed to like k.d. lang and chicks with guitars singing about women's empowerment while local hipsters drink coffee and check out the cutie at the next table.
I read Charles Bukowski.
No...more
I read Charles Bukowski.
No...more
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As much as I love the fire and beerspit of Buk's early works, the honest beauty and abrupt wit of his poems are most evident in his later stuff. Bukowski wears the perspective of an older man well.
This collection was a bit more structured than others I've read, both in terms of the book's arrangement (there was a deliberate and apparent pattern in the poems' organization) and in the actual construction of the poems -- form isn't something I've come to expect from literature's favorite dirty old...more
This collection was a bit more structured than others I've read, both in terms of the book's arrangement (there was a deliberate and apparent pattern in the poems' organization) and in the actual construction of the poems -- form isn't something I've come to expect from literature's favorite dirty old...more
Mar 27, 2008
Philip
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
assholes and appreciators of said disposition
tired of lugging around your blood and bones all day for nothing but a paycheck and a place to sleep at night? find yourself regretting that 15th drink and 5th chick you nailed last night? any devious, dastardly, socially frowned upon behavior you lack the gumption to follow through on is lived out in these pages by the unapologetic mr. bukowski.
bukowski's writing is the argument against growing up in a loving, supportive and stable family unit. without the savage beatings and woeful neglect ad...more
bukowski's writing is the argument against growing up in a loving, supportive and stable family unit. without the savage beatings and woeful neglect ad...more
One of the very first poetry I ever read. I got this book when I was a freshman in high-school and I didn't know anything but classic, romantic poetry. This was a fresh, eye opening example of what poetry could be. Bukowski has since become one of my favorite fiction and poetry writers. I think he's a genius to be honest. One of the most "real" writers I have ever read. He points out the obvious in a way that make you feel like an idiot for never seeing it his way. All the poems in this book are...more
A set of newer poems from Bukowksi, covering themes relevant to an older more successful Bukowski: the comforts of old age and of success, the fear of losing your artistic skill to the young, and contemplation of death.
I enjoyed it a good bit, though he does cover the same themes more than a few times.
I enjoyed it a good bit, though he does cover the same themes more than a few times.
Bukowski's poems are stark and unsentimental in the extreme. These free verse poems cover subjects I don't usually see from other poets: gambling, drinking, fighting... Some are despairing, some hopeful, and all reek of honesty.
I would like to eventually read all of his works.
I would like to eventually read all of his works.
Gravely, gritty, real, sarcastic, sardonic and once in a while, poignant and insightful - reminds me of Bill M. - I still love Billy Collins better - but this is real, blue collar - no apologies for my choices and my life poetry.
Quantity over quality. Some stand out among the rest, but often it feels like he's saying the same things over and over again. Bukowski is very profilic, but his poetry is quite lazy.
Jun 21, 2010
Asaucier
is currently reading it
Favorite Poems
Part 1.
"be cool, fool"
"the end of an era"
"the 60's"
"throwing away the alarm clock"
"the wavering line"
"crucifixion"
"barfly"
Part 1.
"be cool, fool"
"the end of an era"
"the 60's"
"throwing away the alarm clock"
"the wavering line"
"crucifixion"
"barfly"
This is my favorite of Bukowski's posthumous works of poetry. He writes of aging and success, something he earned after all the years of hell he endured. His poems on aging are telling, but not overly sentimental, in my opinion. You still have the standard Bukowski fare too, with racetracks, gambling, girls, drinking, etc. You'll never be free of that when reading Buk. I've read this book four times now and have enjoyed it more each time, and indeed, I think it's so good that it fits into the ca...more
A few good poems, but as a rule, this volume lacks the fire and life of his earlier work.
Many of these poems deal with Bukowski facing his aging and impending death. Excellent stuff. Sad, without being maudlin.
Loved his poetry about drinking, smoking, & doing it with the ladies <3
the best poems I have ever read in my life are in this book.
Bukowski's raw and raunchy poetic ramblings about his drunken, prostitute-filled life on skid row LA is the opposite of what I thought I'd ever like. He tells it like it is and does not candy coat. His repulsive life style is redeemed with his many ode's to his one true love, Jane. For me, one who will hopefully never live the life that Bukowski writes about, I actually enjoy taking a mental romp down those harrowing streets and living for a few poems that dirty life, relishing the feeling that...more
Utterly beautiful.
liked it a lot.
Some good poems and some great ones.
Found several good poems - enemy of the king, 1935 my favorite, also enjoyed pretenders; the poetry game are just a few. If your not familiar with his work go to thepoetryfoundation.org. The book was published in 2005, Bukowski died in 1994, proving there is life after death.
Reading Bukowski is like making a friend sadder than you, and in a way... you feel better because of that. I borrowed this book from a great friend, and now.. we don't talk anymore. I find it strangely ironic that he gave me such a depressing book, now that i think about it. Even still, I really connected with it.
read this during one of my intense depressive/self-deprecatory periods, my coming of age as i first entered college, so bukowski's arrogance and self-regard served as a comfort for me -- i haven't read it in a bit so i don't know what my reaction to it would be ...
Apr 02, 2007
Jeanne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone looking for beauty
Shelves:
poetry
Finding beauty in the ugly things of life is something I think Chuck does wonderfully. I'm not sure if he's doing it on purpose. Still, the way he can make you look at things you might not otherwise want to means he's right up there in my list of favorite poets.
a different breed of bukowski poetry. less about piss and shit and booze and more reflective on his time as a pisser, shitter and boozer. he makes a good case for sobriety.
I don't really like Bukowski but I liked this. It seems that facing death made him more humane.
I also like how reading his stuff makes you think in fragments.
I also like how reading his stuff makes you think in fragments.
Another Bukowski anthology. His work gets me everytime, there is hardly a collection that doesn't have a ton of poems I can identify with.
I so wish I could add it to my Black Sparrow Shelf, but Alas... different publisher, uglier books, great poems!
Like his novels better than his poetry, still great Charles though
!!!!!
once a lover of chinaski, always a lover of him...
once a lover of chinaski, always a lover of him...
Loved a lot of this book. It so reminds me of LA.
Pretty good, for poetry.
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Charles Bukowski was born in Andernach, Germany on August 16, 1920, the only child of an American soldier and a German mother. At the age of three, he came with his family to the United States and grew up in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941, then left school and moved to New York City to become a writer. His lack of publishing success at this time caused him to g...more
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“Dying should come easy:
like a freight train you
don't hear when
your back is
turned.”
—
130 people liked it
More quotes…
like a freight train you
don't hear when
your back is
turned.”
