Charles Bukowski Questions & Answers

I Met A Genius Charles Bukowski I met a genius on the train today about 6 years old, he sat beside me and as the train ran down along the coast we came to the ocean and then he looked at me and said, it's not pretty. it was the first time I'd realized that.

a smile to remember Charles Bukowski we had goldfish and they circled around and around in the bowl on the table near the heavy drapes covering the picture window and my mother, always smiling, wanting us all to be happy, told me, "be happy Henry!" and she was right: it's better to be happy if you can but my father continued to beat her and me several times a week while raging inside his 6-foot-two frame because he couldn't understand what was attacking him from within. my mother, poor fish, wanting to be happy, beaten two or three times a week, telling me to be happy: "Henry, smile! why don't you ever smile?" and then she would smile, to show me how, and it was the saddest smile I ever saw one day the goldfish died, all five of them, they floated on the water, on their sides, their eyes still open, and when my father got home he threw them to the cat there on the kitchen floor and we watched as my mother smiled I don't understand the concluding line Thanks Ashley, I already commented on yours

Charles Bukowski is a well respected American poet, someone I respect immensely, yet, someone here can use his image and portray him as an idiot. Let's respect the man. I'm making a selfish move. You better not do this to anyone else. I don't really care what you do. A precident has to be set here. It scares the hell out of me that some idiot can use my name when I'm dead, and make a mockery of my work! Bukowski would not approve of your "work". So I can't spell..... Leonard C. Hallelujuh! I will continue working for my comrades. You must stop. I am giving this rant a few more min. Please have respect for those who are not with us. No one cares. Respect is the ultimate minute of recognition.(spelling?) You don't have to worry about this. Who will you serve? The question is right above mine, yet I am not allowed to view it. WHY? How is this done? This is stupidity. This is not Lenny. Why is he so upset about an idiot on here? He's a

U2 my wife called me to the phone. "it's Bono calling from Ireland," she said. I picked up the receiver. "hey, Sonny, you still with Cher?" we didn't talk long after that. Charles Bukowski That's alright, Matt. I'm sure many people don't like it.

Raw With Love little dark girl with kind eyes when it comes time to use the knife I won't flinch and I won't blame you, as I drive along the shore alone as the palms wave, the ugly heavy palms, as the living does not arrive as the dead do not leave, I won't blame you, instead I will remember the kisses our lips raw with love and how you gave me everything you had and how I offered you what was left of me, and I will remember your small room the feel of you the light in the window your records your books our morning coffee our noons our nights our bodies spilled together sleeping the tiny flowing currents immediate and forever your leg my leg your arm my arm your smile and the warmth of you who made me laugh again. little dark girl with kind eyes you have no knife. the knife is mine and I won't use it yet. Charles Bukowski schultzie- I'm not sure, either. Fantastic reaction and interpretation of this piece.

Hi I need to get Chrsitmas presents for my dad and stepmom by Friday (that is when I am going over their house for Christmas). My dad is kind of hard to buy for... He is an English teacher so he loves to read...he also like movies a lot (any kind really). I was trying to think of books he would like but I don't know. Some of his favorites are "Into the Wild", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", and stuff like that. He also reads a lot of Charles Bukowski. He also likes music a lot - The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Sinatra, and others. My stepmom really is into comedies. She really likes tv shows like "The Office", "SNL", and "30 Rock". She LOVES "Seinfeld"!! The problem is she already has the entire series on DVD. She is a math teacher but I don't know if that will help at all :) Does anyone have any ideas?

I'm a sophomore in college and I have a rather large book collection. Im looking for something new to read. I love Cormac McCarthy, Hunter S Thompson, Vonnegut, and Steinbeck. Any recommendations that are similar to them or that are just good would be appreciated. Favorite Authors Include But Are Not Limited To: Douglas Adams Jules Verne Chuck Klosterman William Faulkner Ken Kesey George Orwell H.G. Wells Ray Bradbury Jose Saramago J.R.R. Tolkien J.K. Rowling John Grisham Oscar Wilde Joseph Conrad Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Graham Greene Ernest Hemingway Jack Kerouac Chuck Palahniuk Charles Bukowski Nick Hornby I'm to old for this new high school girls trend. thanks tho. ^ Referring to Twilight.

Reading is one of my many hobbies. I LOVE reading, however I've read all of the books I can think of and I am not getting into the ones I have recently bought. Right now on my list of books to get I have Choke by Chuck Palahniuk, anything David Sedaris, Thing of Beauty(the biography of Gia Carangi), Are You There Vodka, Its me Chelsea, and Like Water For Chocolate. I'm really into memoirs of depression and books that don't always end in the typical happy way. My favorite books are Running With Scissors and Prozac Nation. I have already pretty much read everything else Augusten Burroughs. I'm sort of interested in books by Charles Bukowski but I'm not sure if they're a good read...Any opinions? Okay well hopefully I have provided a substantial amount of information to get some help finding books to read.

Charles Bukowski(1920-1997) -in a nutshell-was an American writer,considered part of the literary movement called 'Dirty Realism'.His novels,poems and short stories deal with the downbeat side of life,the lower class,and his hobbies(?)-(lol,drinking,writing,whatever). I had a book of his- it was a collection of some of his short stories,that I'd been reading during a trip to Scotland two years ago.He certainly was very special.A friend abhors him- she thinks of him as crude,disgusting and depressing; I think that's mildly entertaining,but I can see where she's coming from I guess-then again,she detests 'grit-lit'. Important works that I know of include: Pulp Tales Of Ordinary Madness Crucifix in a Deathhand Notes of A Dirty Old Man Are you familiar with any of his works?If yes,what do you think? What the heck is wrong with this question,haha. He has "Don't Try" written on his gravestone?Ah,alrighty...

Anyone that shares the same appreciation, I would love to hear of some other writers you take interest in

dog is much admired by Man because he believes in the hand which feeds him. a perfect setup. for 13 cents a day you've got a hired killer who thinks you are God. a dog can't tell a Nazi from a Republican from a Commie from a Democrat. and, many times, neither can I. Charles Bukowski A simple as this poem may seem, I'm torn between TD's take on this, and then the obvious. Does man admire "dog" because it will follow blindly, regardless of consequence? Or because "dog" will follow blindly.....regardless of consequence? Sister, you've proven you DO "get this stuff."

She Said by Charles Bukowski what are you doing with all those paper napkins in your car? we dont have napkins like that how come your car radio is always turned to some rock and roll station?do you drive around with some young thing? you're dripping tangerine juice on the floor. whenever you go into the kitchen this towel gets wet and dirty, why is that? when you let my bathwater run you never clean the tub first. why don't you put your toothbrush back in the rack? you should always dry your razor sometimes I think you hate my cat. Martha says you were downstairs sitting with her and you had your pants off. you shouldn't wear those $100 shoes in the garden and you don't keep track of what you plant out there that's dumb you must always set the cat's bowl back in the same place. don't bake fish in a frying pan... I never saw anybody harder on the brakes of their car than you. let's go to a movie. listen what's wrong with you? you act depressed. ---------------------------- You tell me. Oh no, I know poems don't have to rhyme. I just saw a comment on someone's poem recently that said "Oh my god, it doesn't rhyme!" I just wanted to prove otherwise. I love Bukowski.

Charles Bukowski (literary genius and one of my heroes!) reciting some of his poetry with Led Zeppelin as a backing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu0zivmnpzY William S. Burroughs with Ministry... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lVBaHuM6Tg Will Self and Bomb the Bass on their '5ml Barrel' tune... unfortunately i can't find a clip for this. it's what inspired this q in the first place... Self's deadpan voice reciting his prose over a cool trip- hoppy tune... ... so do you know anything similar? not 'singing' but speaking/reciting prose/poetry/lyrics whatever? could be official releases, bootlegs, mash-ups or even something daft made up on youtube. provide links if you can! wow, great answers guys n gals! i wasn't sure if i was going to get any at all! thanks!

here's one of my favorites by him- Bluebird there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too tough for him, I say, stay in there, I’m not going to let anybody see you. there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I pour whiskey on him and inhale cigarette smoke and the whores and the bartenders and the grocery clerks never know that he’s in there. there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too tough for him, I say, stay down, do you want to mess me up? you want to screw up the works? you want to blow my book sales in Europe? there’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out but I’m too clever, I only let him out at night sometimes when everybody’s asleep. I say, I know that you’re there, so don’t be sad. then I put him back, but he’s singing a little in there, I haven’t quite let him die and we sleep together like that with our secret pact and it’s nice enough to make a man weep, but I don’t weep, do you? - Charles Bukowski

This requires a little prefacing. I've noticed that there is a split, much the same as there is in the art community, on whether it is the intent, or the product that matters. For this reason I'm writing an experimental poem. So here's the rub down. Charles Bukowski, arguably the best poet in the last 50 years once wrote a poem. In this poem, he made the statement that any poem with the word "Cicada" in what would be viewed as a masterpiece and be published. For that reason I present this poem. Enjoy. Tribute to Charles Bukowski Cicada By now my point should be served. Intent does not define poetry.

I know I've read it in one of his books before but I can't remember. Any time you type in Bukowski and Nirvana, you get his book Slouching Toward Nirvana.

Anyone ever read Charles Bukowski? yeah, I don't think it has to be pretty either. I just got s lot of negative comments about my peom because it grossed some people out and I thought maybe I needed a new forum. Good to know some people are on my "wave length"

Some People some people never go crazy. me, sometimes I'll lie down behind the couch for 3 or 4 days. they'll find me there. it's Cherub, they'll say, and they pour wine down my throat rub my chest sprinkle me with oils. then, I'll rise with a roar, rant, rage - curse them and the universe as I send them scattering over the lawn. I'll feel much better, sit down to toast and eggs, hum a little tune, suddenly become as lovable as a pink overfed whale. some people never go crazy. what truly horrible lives they must lead. Charles Bukowski

...is the irony of a poem that on it's surface is hopeless, yet you finish it and get an odd feeling of confidence, and you're smiling. What does this Bukowski poem do for you? The Blackbirds Are Rough Today lonely as a dry and used orchard spread over the earth for use and surrender. shot down like an ex-pug selling dailies on the corner. taken by tears like an aging chorus girl who has gotten her last check. a hanky is in order your lord your worship. the blackbirds are rough today like ingrown toenails in an overnight jail--- wine wine whine, the blackbirds run around and fly around harping about Spanish melodies and bones. and everywhere is nowhere--- the dream is as bad as flapjacks and flat tires: why do we go on with our minds and pockets full of dust like a bad boy just out of school--- you tell me, you who were a hero in some revolution you who teach children you who drink with calmness you who own large homes and walk in gardens you who have killed a man and own a beautiful wife you tell me why I am on fire like old dry garbage. we might surely have some interesting correspondence. it will keep the mailman busy. and the butterflies and ants and bridges and cemeteries the rocket-makers and dogs and garage mechanics will still go on a while until we run out of stamps and/or ideas. don't be ashamed of anything; I guess God meant it all like locks on doors. Charles Bukowski After posting that, I read it and it was like the first time....so much there... "Charlie" is dead.

Maybe "muse" is the wrong notion here; maybe "inspiration" is better... When I need some of that ^^^^, I read this poem by Charles Bukowski and tear it apart and to pieces and realize just how very simple and very good it is..... Consummation Of Grief I even hear the mountains the way they laugh up and down their blue sides and down in the water the fish cry and the water is their tears. I listen to the water on nights I drink away and the sadness becomes so great I hear it in my clock it becomes knobs upon my dresser it becomes paper on the floor it becomes a shoehorn a laundry ticket it becomes cigarette smoke climbing a chapel of dark vines . . . it matters little very little love is not so bad or very little life what counts is waiting on walls I was born for this I was born to hustle roses down the avenues of the dead. Charles Bukowski I've read that poem a hundred times and I learn something new everytime. Inspired, I am.

if it wasn't for him he wouldn't have written, do you know the name of this writer?

Can anyone suggest a book that resemble Bukowski's way of writing? Ive read most of his book and honestly , I think it is repetitive. Dont get me wrong , I like the way he writes and some of his books(ham on rye & post office)but Im looking for something similar but doesnt talk about sex and drinking every 3 lines like Bukowski did. I hope you guys and girls understand what Im trying to say. Thanks

The first poem is of the type I grew up forced to read, and it put me off for a long while. The second poem is of the type I stumbled upon, and it opened up everything. Did you have a moment when you knew? Afternoon on a Hill I will be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one. I will look at cliffs and clouds With quiet eyes, Watch the wind bow down the grass, And the grass rise. And when lights begin to show Up from the town, I will mark which must be mine, And then start down! Edna St. Vincent Millay Pull A String, A Puppet Moves each man must realize that it can all disappear very quickly: the cat, the woman, the job, the front tire, the bed, the walls, the room; all our necessities including love, rest on foundations of sand - and any given cause, no matter how unrelated: the death of a boy in Hong Kong or a blizzard in Omaha ... can serve as your undoing. all your chinaware crashing to the kitchen floor, your girl will enter and you'll be standing, drunk, in the center of it and she'll ask: my god, what's the matter? and you'll answer: I don't know, I don't know ... Charles Bukowski

Having done loads of different jobs all my life, i think bukowski is absolutely on the button about the wage slave mentality and the mind numbing dullness of most work. He's the poet for the downtrodden and his work such as post office and ham on rye, seems more pertinent now than ever - what do you think?

What was the exact date Charles Bukowski Died? Thanks =D

Okay, I'd like to read some Bukowski, but I have no idea where to start. I haven't read any, and I'd like to hear your recommendations for Bukowski's best work with which to start. Could you recommend his best novel, collection of poems, and collection of short stories? Thanks.

or at least mentions him in a song?

Why do you think that Bukowski wrote about women in sometimes negative or only in sexual ways? I never know how to explain him to other people. How would you? Im a woman that loves reading Bukowski mostly because he says things how they are. I've read Pulp, Women, South of No North, Ham on Rye, and Hot Water Music and plan on continuing. do you think its just a way to make his writing more interesting? because I had no idea he had a wife and a child until I watched a documentry on him. It just made me wonder

Hamsun's Hunger and The Rest At night it’s usually Bukowski, maybe something from the local editorial section but lately I can’t seem to shake Hamsun’s Inger, the harelip, the dead baby the Nazi threat that never quite made sense to me, the fear of Hunger the want to write my own fears, and Charles says sure and sure And they all speak of madness And bluebirds And madness again and I roll over and MAD magazine Seems like a good idea gone bad, and I dream of Inger with a million dead babies and a perfect set of lips, and morning finally comes, alone, and weary. ~~~~DPM~~~~

i have read and reread everything i own multiple times, my favorite authors are chuck palahniuk, steven king, anne rice, kurt vonnegut, charles bukowski, patricia cornwell and stephenie meyer. i like lots of other stuff too and i own pretty much everything by the authors i listed above. so please share with me your favorite books and authors, or any random thing you think i might like. thanks! thanks for all your suggestions but they all seem to be vampire books or murder mysteries. i am in no means complaining but if anyone has suggestions for different types of books i would appreciate it. i like satire and i like dark humor also.(things similar to vonnegut or palahniuk)

My ex boyfriend whom I still live with and am going through one of those phases where we are trying to see if we need to walk or way or stick it out because it seem as right as it does wrong. He calls me Lydia from "Women" How do you interpret it when you think about them in the novel. The love/hate... everything. She seems so important but isn't with him in the end... is she the one that got away?... Does my ex not want to let me be the Lydia that slips away (despite our vicious cycle of love and hate) lol Please leave your opinion... I have searched all over the internet but can't find any message or dicussion boards for "Women" Thank you in advance :)

This poem speaks for all of us writers, i'm not a big fan of his poetry, but this poem in particular is true for all of us writers. So You Want To Be A Writer by Charles Bukowski if it doesn't come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don't do it. unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth and your gut, don't do it. if you have to sit for hours staring at your computer screen or hunched over your typewriter searching for words, don't do it. if you're doing it for money or fame, don't do it. if you're doing it because you want women in your bed, don't do it. if you have to sit there and rewrite it again and again, don't do it. if it's hard work just thinking about doing it, don't do it. if you're trying to write like somebody else, forget about it. if you have to wait for it to roar out of you, then wait patiently. if it never does roar out of you, do something else. if you first have to read it to your wife or your girlfriend or your boyfriend or your parents or to anybody at all, you're not ready. don't be like so many writers, don't be like so many thousands of people who call themselves writers, don't be dull and boring and pretentious, don't be consumed with self- love. the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind. don't add to that. don't do it. unless it comes out of your soul like a rocket, unless being still would drive you to madness or suicide or murder, don't do it. unless the sun inside you is burning your gut, don't do it. when it is truly time, and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you. there is no other way. and there never was. lol Mixtli I think Charles is just saying...writing should come from the heart.

... Running with Scissors, etc. I didn't like Twilight. I'm looking for a book to read on a long flight. I'm a teen by the way. Should I read Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski? I've also read and liked the Perks of Being a Wallflower, Go Ask Alice, and Crank too. and Speak, The Outsiders, and the Catcher in the Rye

I've only taken a true risk once (quit a job on the spot). I really haven't ever taken romantic risks in life, because I feel I would be emotionally destroyed if I did. That is, until I read this Charles Bukowski poem. What do you think of the poem's philosophy? Roll the Dice if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start. if you’re going to try, go all the way. this could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind. go all the way. it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days. it could mean freezing on a park bench. it could mean jail, it could mean derision, mockery, isolation. isolation is the gift, all the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. and you’ll do it despite rejection and the worst odds and it will be better than anything else you can magine. if you’re going to try, go all the way. there is no other feeling like that. you will be alone with the gods and the nights CONT'D: will flame with fire. do it, do it, do it. do it. all the way all the way. you will ride life straight to perfect laughter, its the only good fight there is. Don't you feel you could ruin your life & others if you follow this philosophy? Or, do you believe in the philosophy that you only live once?

I'm fascinated by this poem of his. I don't know much about Charles, though. I wonder if he lived and believed in the philosophy of this poem? Was he a happy man? Do you believe in this poem's meaning? I have never taken big risks, so I can't say if I would be happy if I did make such dangerous moves. These actions could cause hurt & pain, to yourself & others. Let me know what you think of this poem & Charles. Thx! roll the dice if you’re going to try, go all the way otherwise, don’t even start if you’re going to try, go all the way. this could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind. go all the way.it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days. it could mean freezing on a park bench. it could mean jail, it could mean derision, mockery, isolation. isolation is the gift, all the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. and you’ll do it. despite rejection and the worst odds an anything else you can imagine. CONT'D: CONT'D: if you’re going to try, go all the way. there is no other feeling like that. you will be alone with the gods and the nights will flame with fire. do it, do it, do it. do it. all the way all the way. you will ride life straight to perfect laughter, its the only good fight there is. Charles Bukowski (Poems & Plays, 1997)

I'm trying to compile a list of about 100 books to read within the next year, and I honestly don't know where to start! There's so many good ones out there, but I am horrible at searching for books. I'm looking for mainly classics, although new releases are acceptable. I'm a teen, and all of the books that are suggested to me by family members and teachers are usually horrible and... crap. And the teen section is no good, because it's filled with vampires or teenage drama books! Some of my favorite authors are Charles Bukowski, George Orwell... satire is a favorite topic of mine as well!

He worked at the post-office and wrote when he could, but one gets the impression he would have been unable to build much of a writing career if he hadn't found stable employment. Would he have fallen through the cracks, so-to-speak?

I read Post Office by Charles Bukowski and thought it was great. I'm looking for recommendations of good books along these lines, other than Bukowski's other work. Maybe something a little less racey, i need it for a report for school. If not than thats fine, as long as it is good.

Also into John Fante Augusten Burroughs/David Sedaris Kurt Vonnegut

There's a Yahoobird in my heart that wants to fly out but I'm too afraid for him, I say, stay in there, I'm not going to let anybody see you. there's a Yahoobird in my heart that wants to fly out but I pour Absolute vodka on him and inhale cigarette smoke and the Trolls and the Reporters and the contact list never know that he's in there. there's a Yahoobird in my heart that wants to fly out but I'm too afraid for him, I say, stay down, do you want to mess it all up? you want to screw up this account? you want to blow my point score in Polls and Surveys? there's a Yahoobird in my heart that wants to fly out but I'm too clever, I only let him soar at night sometimes when everybody's asleep. I say, so good that you're out there, so don't be sad. when I put you back, but he's singing a little in there, I haven't quite let him die and we laugh together like that with our secret pact and it's nice enough to make a man weep, but I won't weep, will you?

quoting Charles Bukowski... luca23: are you kidding me? your mom dated him? no way! uncle thesis. accurate in what way? it is just a way to put it. just want to hear your opinion on this

I love him like I love his writing style: very candid, very raw and straight forward. His poetry is good too - he's one of the few modern poets I've read (and bear in mind that I have read few) who isn't stuck in the Romantic period. One of the reasons why I like Bukowski is because he wrote about a life which is very unfashionable: he was a bum, a womanizer and alcoholic.

There is a poem from the point of view of Bukowski or someone that is supposed to be him. I can't remember the author. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

I'm trying to find the exact quote from Charles Bukowski that goes along the lines of "Voting for the presidential candidate that reminds you most of yourself" Help.

It could be a novel about the band or any novel/author that they mention in their music. Some examples: Senses Fail's album Let It Enfold You was named after a poem by Charles Bukowski. After that, I began reading Bukowski's work and love it. Elliott Smith's Either/Or was named after a Søren Kierkegaard book which was great as well. The only book I ever remember my father reading was No One Here Gets Out Alive, the first biography of Jim Morrison. And you? goodnightgoodmorning- I never read the Autumn de Wilde book, but I did read the Benjamin Nugent biography Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing and that was pretty cool. Daft- Thanks for the advice, I'll have to check that out.

My favorite genre is fiction. I like when the novels are character driven. I'm in my mid 20's, if that helps. My favorite books are: Stranger in a Strange Land. Enders Game. The Twilight Series. (I know it's for teens, but I still love it.) Franny and Zooey. The Great Divorce. The Chronicles of Narnia, particularly The Magician's Nephew. And I also enjoy a number of Charles Bukowski's writings.