Notes on Poetry Composition

Notes on Poetry Composition

When I need to make sense of it all, I go back to the beginning.

I throw out the poetry textbooks and all my lecture notes.
I ignore the voice in my head that keeps repeating “imagery,
cadence, structure and rhyme”.

I go back to Bluebird and Roll the Dice. I go back to that place
where my passion was born, where the muse first gave me a wink
and the gods showed me words that could kick like a mule
and kiss me like no woman I had ever known.

I forget about submission guidelines and contributors’ copies.
I pour myself a tall glass of cheap scotch cut with ice
and drink until I don’t give a shit, until I’m ready to wipe my ass
with rejection letters and can vomit up years of advice.

It’s then that I remember the women I’ve fucked
and the ones that have fucked me. I think about the pain
and failure that's refined me, then I take another sip and say
“but I’m still here”, and I smile at the gentle tinkle of ice and glass.

SMG

Impulse Control

Impulse Control

We met under a neon sign

at the Coyote Moon;

a rundown bar across

the street from the Ramada.

She asked me for a cigarette

and smiled as I fumbled to light it.

She carried her years well

but her eyes looked a little sad

behind the smokey blue glow.

“Are you married” she asked

and I had to think hard about

if it even mattered anymore.

“Some days more than others”

I replied. She nodded and looked away.

Our Camels burned down

and the conversation stalled,

so we moved back inside for a drink.

She drank Smirnoff straight,

and swallowed like it was pride.

I noticed the wetness on her lips

and wondered how it would mix

with my scotch as we walked out
to share my last cigarette.

“I don’t like to sleep alone”

was followed by a well-dressed

exhale of smoke. “Who does?”
I shrugged, then I kissed her

on the cheek before going back

inside to close out my tab.

SMG

Two of My Favorite Things (Bukowski -vs- Bonham & Helios)

I love a good mash-up and these two different takes on Bukowski's "The Last Days of the Suicide Kid" are great. Of the two, I prefer the Bonham drum track from "When the Levee Breaks" but both are worth a listen. Enjoy!

Bukowski -vs- Bonham

 

Charles Bukowski & Helios - Last Days/Morning Year



Pretentious Little Poet by the Poetry Rack at Borders

Pretentious Little Poet by the Poetry Rack at Borders

"If you like Bukowski
then you should
definitely
check out
this anthology.
It has several
of my poems
in it and
Bukowski
is my
biggest
influence"

SMG

Roll the Dice by Charles Bukowski

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski

ee Bukowski

ee Bukowski

I pick-
ed
****up
thisextordinarywoman
(at
the track)
She
was new
toall
*****this bet
ting ******the ponies
****shit
and so (by
the
way)
impressed she was
with my
***********prowess
that
*****she
gave me
*****allofher;
money which I
lost
as quick
ly
as
I had
my own

SMG

Bukowski Never Did This

Bukowski Never Did This

Hell; I really thought I was ready.
God knows I've spent enough time
going crazy in this tiny little room.

But your eyes set fire to pinstripes,
and I can see the disapproval
on that minefield face of yours.

You know four hour meetings
and monthly pace reports take
just as much endurance as your
whores, beer and long vacant nights.

I’ve been without women, without food,
without hope and my calloused fingers
have battered and bled on plenty of keys.

My script has more than one scene
and the protagonist has an arc;
a dingy hotel to an apartment in Murray Hill.

A six figure life can still kick you in the balls,
and there’s angst and pain and confusion
even behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz.

I’ll continue to live my 9 to 5 days
and bang out my ordinary words.
I hope with time, I’ll win your respect
and if I don't, well that’s all right too.

(Reference)