22 Comments
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Buddy S.'s avatar

“what matters most is

how well you

walk through the

fire.” I have used this quote for loved ones going though something difficult.

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monsters and men's avatar

I can almost imagine him writing in the last part of the poem about him walking on the floor with his feet bleeding because he accidentally walked through shards of broken glass from the empty bottles of beer that he failed to throw in the trash can…(as he narrated more than once in his stories) But then again, that’s life irrespective of all the complaining that we might have… CB will always be among my favourite writers!

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Alan Marshall Clark's avatar

Pure Bukowski. The essence of him.

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Frank Garnick's avatar

I suppose that my stay in a burn unit at 16 helped me develop this same ability.

In my "old age" it manifests itself as verse.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thearchersmarch/p/contentment-is-a-choice?utm_source=direct&r=1pjo7v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

Lovely sonnet. Yes, contentment with what is, or in spite of it, is a choice. One we too often don't make. Sadly.

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Julie Dee's avatar

I totally get what he means. For me it’s the fleeting joy of novelty plugging gaps.

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Kallol Mazumdar's avatar

https://kallolpoetry.substack.com/p/the-feet-lift-themselves-and-the?sd=pf

A poetic utopian saga of everything that exists, for it exists and remains.. A dance poem of how dancing led to a united aura of world release while the brave attained enlightenment.

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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

Especially the fire lit by ourselves?

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Carl Nelson's avatar

Bukowski is fun.

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Vincent  Martínez-Grieco's avatar

Charles you write, expose, and live the yoga sutras.

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Anne Leon's avatar

Hadn't read this one in a long time. I am seeing it all through more experienced eyes.

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

Yes, that inner balance, no matter what else is going on around you, it keeps you on keel.

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Kallol Mazumdar's avatar

https://kallolpoetry.substack.com/p/the-feet-lift-themselves-and-the?sd=pf

A poetic utopian saga of everything that exists, for it exists and remains.. A dance poem of how dancing led to a united aura of world release while the brave attained enlightenment.

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Marc Brimble's avatar

What's great is we know that this is 70% true and 30% his wry humour

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drewzmuze's avatar

Indeed 👏🏽✨️

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Mary Durelll's avatar

👏👏👏👏👏

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Joey DeFilippis's avatar

love Chuck.

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Dian Parker's avatar

Yes!

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Elagabalus's avatar

Hunter Thompson wrote similarly:

"When the going gets weird

The Weird go Pro"

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