The Essential Bukowski: Poetry

by Charles Bukowski

remember his wife used his compositions to line the cat boxes with or to cover jars of sour milk;

desperate women: lady wrestlers, nurses, waitresses, whores

After reading his poems, I always have to have a follow up discussion with my therapist. Why does my mind work the way it does?

you who have killed a man and own a beautiful wife you tell me why I am on fire like old dry garbage.

people who live on hot dogs and potato chips for 3 days before payday feel bad enough.

Jesus, Christ, my sisters warned me about you! they told me what you were like! I didn’t believe them, hell, you looked like a man! all your books, thousands of poems, and what do you know? you’re afraid to look at a woman’s pussy! all you can do is drink! do you think it takes any guts to drink? here I’ve given you 5 years of my life and what do you do?: you won’t even discuss things with me!

Enough said.