52 Comments
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RGomez's avatar

To do something well, truly well, costs nothing less than our all.

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Catherine Wallace's avatar

I like that. Thank you.

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Greg F.'s avatar

Clarity, like death, is a bitch. But a comfort too, when brought into focus.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

it's a hell of a life if you got the strength for it (and the weakness)

used to see him out at Hollywood Park, clubhouse level, against the wall with his Racing Form and program. thank god i knew enough to leave him the fuck alone

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Thomas Molitor's avatar

Got a The Seventh Seal-like storyline:

a knight suddenly comes face-to-face

with the hooded figure of Death,

and challenges him to a game of chess.

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Comment deleted
Apr 17, 2024
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Thomas Molitor's avatar

you are correct /

Bergman used humor

to make his more serious points.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Fucking hilarious

Fucking drop dead steel irony

Fucking precious

Got to be writing it down

no matter what

that’s the ancient rhyme

the Muse sung

over and over and over

since the beginning of written time

She sings because she must

She sings because that is

her reason for being.

She needs no instruction manual

no writer’s workshop

to know how to sing

A jealous mistress

like no other

Another thing

Death cannot defeat

Her songs echo in Eternity

blazing across Infinity

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Edwin Ngetich's avatar

I love Bukowski; he lived his life, deeply and deeply. He had understood the game of life. He discovered his poetry gift in his second half of life and lived like never before. What I admired about him is that he wrote from his heart and soul. His earlier life of pain and suffering shaped him. And today, he is a celebrated poet. And I have got my 5 minutes.

I am writer like him; I write for the underserved communities in Africa. Maybe you can pass by so I can't starve

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Russell C. Smith's avatar

If you're new to Bukowski, start here: Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame, Selected Poems 1959-1973

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Carrie Smith's avatar

I am new… and this poem has captivated me. Thank you for the recommendations.

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Richbee's avatar

A writer’s dilemma squeezing time through the cracks of light in the day, doing jobs to get by, but having a smoke with the reaper and drinking the last of wine squeezed a creative moment for clarity.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Everything has a crack in it,

that’s how the light gets in,

sang Leonard Cohen

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Tori's avatar

Death is lighting my cigars

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Rolando Andrade's avatar

One of my favorite writers and poets

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Debbi Mack's avatar

Fuckin' A, man.

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Nika's avatar

Needed to read this right now. Thank you so much.

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Bob Rohan's avatar

Anyone out there who is willing to die, really die, for their freedom?

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

I died many times for my freedom,

not physically,

but in all other ways-

freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,

Joplin sang,

When we ruin our reputations,

we can be free,

I heard someone say,

before I did it,

which reminds me of Jesus in the Gospels saying

we must die to the old and become the new

to enter the Kingdom of God.

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Sean Garrisson's avatar

I could die for freedom. Can I kill for freedom?

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

We can kill in us what keeps us from being free,

but first we must know what it is.

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Sean Garrisson's avatar

You know what I mean.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Not sure I do, but there are folks in America who seem to think it’s okay to kill people who don’t think like they do :-)

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Sean Garrisson's avatar

That's certainly not what is meant.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

So, what did you mean?

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Sean Garrisson's avatar

getting it down in a time warp no matter what.

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Dian Parker's avatar

Yeah….

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

"and “they” wanted me to be a stock boy in a

department store." AHH!! Bukowski had it all figured so simply. His writing just grabs you and doesn't let go. He never sugar-coated anything, no matter how flawed or messed up! Just took his words from his head and put them on paper so beautifully!

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