The Last Night of the Earth Poems
by Charles Bukowski
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 584)
i'm presenting here a few of the poems in this collection that made significant impressions on me.
"are you drinking?"
washed-up, on shore, the old yellow notebook
out again
I write from the bed
as I did last
year.
will see the doctor,
Monday.
"yes, doctor, weak legs, vertigo, head-
aches and my back
hurts."
"are you drinking?" he will ask.
"are you getting your
exercise, your
vitamins?"
I think that I am just ill
with life,...more
"are you drinking?"
washed-up, on shore, the old yellow notebook
out again
I write from the bed
as I did last
year.
will see the doctor,
Monday.
"yes, doctor, weak legs, vertigo, head-
aches and my back
hurts."
"are you drinking?" he will ask.
"are you getting your
exercise, your
vitamins?"
I think that I am just ill
with life,...more
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Read in January, 2004
I was standing at a bookstore during the Christmas season, looking for something else entirely when I spotted this book. I had dabbled in Bukowski previously, saw some flicks on him, and felt rather ambiguously about his slurring drunk face and unmemorable words.
Until I opened this book. I don't know what compelled me, but it was one of those moments in a book lover's life.
It was a reprieve. The hustle of the Holidays ceased to exist, the jostling crowd melting away as I read, standing the...more
Until I opened this book. I don't know what compelled me, but it was one of those moments in a book lover's life.
It was a reprieve. The hustle of the Holidays ceased to exist, the jostling crowd melting away as I read, standing the...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone sick of purple prose and flowery metaphor
When Bukowski gets it right it's more right that just about anyone else can get it. There are some unspectacular poems in this collection, but the standouts are so very worth the price of admission. Buk, to me, is always at his best when dealing with the concept of death. He does this brilliantly in novel form with Pulp, and in poetry Buk manages to express a concerned apathy. That is, he seems to have reconciled his own demise, to have accepted it, and at the same time he is burdened by ...more
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Read in January, 1999
This book used to be my bible. I'd carry it around with me on camping trips, in my backpack in high school, to picnics and into caves (seriously. Caves.) I lent it out all the time, and the last time I did, five years ago, it was never returned. This is probably for the best, given how much I hate Bukowski these days, but I can't bear to give it less than four stars today given how much I loved it before.
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Read in January, 2006
According to this book, old Charles Bukowski likes to drink, gamble, sleep with women, and write. He will remind you of this on every page. Not sure why these are poems, seems like they could have worked just as well in prose. But he does get some funny lines in there. I think the thing I liked most about this book was the title.
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Read in April, 2005
He is unrelenting. He refuses to offer you a glimmer of hope at the end of pages and pages of...whatever that overriding thing is. totally unrelenting and unabashedly funny.
you know when something is tragic enough that it becomes ripe for the most offensive and potent humor? yes. This makes you grimace.
you know when something is tragic enough that it becomes ripe for the most offensive and potent humor? yes. This makes you grimace.
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This is probably my most favorite of Bukowski's books. I grew up in the suburbs of LA but his poems resonate the city of LA. Seedy, balmy, grotesque, yet beautiful Bukowski's LA is profoundly intense and in your face. Unreserved and unapologetic Bukowski shows us his LA.
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1 comments
the problem is that bukowski was a depressed womanizing alcoholic, and that's what his poems are about. but on the other hand...his style, his choice of every word, every poem are the work of a skilled writer.
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Discovering Bukowski when I was 15 was like hitting the jackpot. Some of these sentiments I've outgrown, but there are a few handfuls of really, really good poems
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This book was death all the time and it was fearless and beautiful... Bukowski is so good at ruthlessly looking at the things from which most of us turn away.
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I suppose Bukowski's shtick is macho, misogynist, wildly narcissistic poetry. After several poems the shtick simply gets old.
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Read in September, 2007
Why I started writing poetry. It taught me that poetry didn't have to be delicate, tea-cozy academic bullshit. Enough said.
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don't ask, tell
I tell you
such fine music
waits in
the shadow
of hell
Nuff said.
I tell you
such fine music
waits in
the shadow
of hell
Nuff said.
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Read in November, 2007
The only Bukowski book I could ever relate to. Super soft and sweet. He's totally calmed down.
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You want to laugh and cry about living and dying? Read this one. Every punchline is perfect.
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I really enjoyed these poems for their structure, their content was a whole other story...
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Old Drunk Men with Gambling Problems
I have a love affair with bitter old men with drinking problems. Somehow, I relate.
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yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
cry cry cry, funny funny funny, so sad, please read.
cry cry cry, funny funny funny, so sad, please read.
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Some really good poems, but many of the others are repetitive and redundant.
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