HOW TO BE A GREAT WRITER - CHARLES BUKOWSKI
August 27th 2008 13:13
how to be a great writer, by Charles Bukowski
you've got to fuck a great many women
beautiful women
and write a few decent love poems.
and don't worry about age
and/or freshly-arrived talents.
just drink more beer
more and more beer
and attend the racetrack at least once a
week
and win
if possible
learning to win is hard -
any slob can be a good loser.
and don't forget your Brahms
and your Bach and your
beer.
don't overexercise.
sleep until moon.
avoid paying credit cards
or paying for anything on
time.
remember that there isn't a piece of ass
in this world over $50
(in 1977).
and if you have the ability to love
love yourself first
but always be aware of the possibility of
total defeat
whether the reason for that defeat
seems right or wrong -
an early taste of death is not necessarily
a bad thing.
stay out of churches and bars and museums,
and like the spider be
patient -
time is everybody's cross,
plus
exile
defeat
treachery
all that dross.
stay with the beer.
beer is continuous blood.
a continuous lover.
get a large typewriter
and as the footsteps go up and down
outside your window
hit that thing
hit it hard
make it a heavyweight fight
make it the bull when he first charges in
and remember the old dogs
who fought so well:
Hemingway, Celine, Dostoevsky, Hamsun.
If you think they didn't go crazy
in tiny rooms
just like you're doing now
without women
without food
without hope
then you're not ready.
drink more beer.
there's time.
and if there's not
that's all right
too.
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Hope you're well...
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
Regards,
Chris
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I always love hearing Bukowski's poetry. Even if that one wasn't read out by the author himself...
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I'm already drunk
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Timely, I've been getting into that new Squire PepperBerry Beer lately, have you tried it?
I'm sure it's spurns more wordds per bottle than others ;o) hic.
Interesting poem, truly an interesting man, although i always felt sorry for him not being able to weep. I think all men need to learn .. to find more peace, perhaps.
Does alcohol inhibit weeping or encourage it?
Perhaps I'l go away now and think of a witty repartee for women writers to follow... I'm sure it'll have to include Gin and Tonic and the advantages of avoiding the bargain sales in the malls, perhaps?
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
hahahahahahhaa. I just googled PepperBerry beer. I think I'm gonna have to have a trip to the ole shop tomorrow and grab me a few of them bananas
Bukowski is a crazy guy who had a crazy and pretty tragic life. I would love to have met him. And I would love to read your comeback poem