Poem of the Week, by Charles Bukowski

Last week I was out to dinner with someone in her 20s and someone in his 50s. We were drinking Eastsiders and comparing the relative heat index of the shishito peppers we were eating (each shishito varies widely, from mild to instant tears) when the 50s suddenly turned to the 20s.

“Here’s the deal,” he said. “Life is short. Go everywhere you can, have as many adventures as you can, do everything you can while you can, because life, is, short. And that’s the best advice I have for you.”

There was something in his voice, something intense. She knew what he was saying was from the heart, and that he meant it, and that his advice came from experience, and she listened carefully and then nodded. Your life is your life, says the poet below, be on the watch.

The Laughing Heart

– Charles Bukowski

your life is your life

don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

be on the watch.

there are ways out.

there is light somewhere.

it may not be much light but

it beats the darkness.

be on the watch.

the gods will offer you chances.

know them.

take them.

you can’t beat death but

you can beat death in life, sometimes.

and the more often you learn to do it,

the more light there will be.

your life is your life.

know it while you have it.

you are marvelous

the gods wait to delight

in you.

 

For more information on Charles Bukowski, please click here.

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