“they say that hell is crowded, yet,

“they say that hell is crowded, yet,

when you’re in hell,

you always seem to be alone.

and you can’t tell anyone when you’re in hell

or they’ll think you’re crazy

and being crazy is being in hell

and being sane is hellish too.

those who escape hell,

however,

never talk about

it

and nothing much

bothers them

after

that.

I mean, things like missing a meal,

going to jail, wrecking your car,

or even the idea of death itself.

when you ask them,

‘how are things?’

they’ll always answer, ‘fine, just fine…’

once you’ve been to hell and back,

that’s enough

it’s the greatest satisfaction known to man.

once you’ve been to hell and back,

you don’t look behind you when the floor creaks

and the sun is always up at midnight

and things like the eyes of mice

or an abandoned tire in a vacant lot

can make you smile

once you’ve been to hell and back.”

–Charles Bukowski, “Lost” from Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame (1974)