What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire

by Charles Bukowski

there is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of a clock’s hands. there is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in blinking neon in Vegas, in Baltimore, in Munich. people are tired strafed by life mutilated either by love or no love. we don’t need new governments new revolutions we don’t need new men new women we don’t need new ways we just need to care. people are not good to each other one on one. people are just not good to each other. we are afraid. we think that hatred signifies strength. that punishment is love. what we need is less false education what we need are fewer rules fewer police and more good teachers. we forget the terror of one person aching in one room alone unkissed untouched cut off watering a plant alone without a telephone that would never ring anyway. people are not good to each other