Bukowski

[ben is a sandwich]

i just read south of no north by charles bukowski, and thought it rather fantastic.

(an aside: there's a story in it that seems to have inspired the "devil on roller skates bit" in htb)

this was my introduction to him. i figured id pick up one of his books seeing as how he's stylistically in line with a lot of my favourites.

 

anyhow, any bukowski fans or haters?

what do you suggest i pick up next from him?

what should i maybe avoid?

[HoboFactory]

Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,

that every night turns out to be

A little more like Bukowski.

And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.

But God who'd wanna be?

God who'd wanna be such an asshole?

God who'd wanna be?

God who'd wanna be such an asshole?

 

Well we sat on the edge of the river,

the crowd screamed, "Sacrifice the liver!"

If God takes life, he's an Indian giver.

So tell me now why, you'll tell me never.

Who would wanna be?

Who would wanna be such a control freak?

Well who would wanna be?

Who would wanna be such a control freak?

 

Well see what you wanna see. You should see it all.

Well take what you want from me. You deserve it all.

Nine times out of ten our hearts just get dissolved.

Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.

 

But one time out of ten, everything is perfect for us all.

Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.

Here we go!

 

If God controls the land and disease,

keeps a watchful eye on me,

If he's really so damn mighty,

my problem is I can't see,

well who would wanna be?

Who would wanna be such a control freak?

Well who would wanna be?

Who would wanna be such a control freak?

 

Evil home stereo, what good songs do you know?

Evil me, oh yeah I know, what good curves can you throw?

 

Well all that icing and all that cake,

I can't make it to your wedding, but I'm sure I'll be at your wake.

You were talk, talk, talk, talkin' in circles that day,

when you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, OK?

 

Went to bed and didn't see

why every day turns out to be

a little bit more like Bukowski.

And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.

But God who'd wanna be?

God who'd wanna be such an asshole?

[ben is a sandwich]

good song, that.

i'd forgotten all about it until it happened to play on the subway while reading said book.

freaked me out.

[sockcrotch]

The Genius Of The Crowd

Charles Bukowski

 

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average

human being to supply any given army on any given day

 

and the best at murder are those who preach against it

and the best at hate are those who preach love

and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

 

those who preach god, need god

those who preach peace do not have peace

those who preach peace do not have love

 

beware the preachers

beware the knowers

beware those who are always reading books

beware those who either detest poverty

or are proud of it

beware those quick to praise

for they need praise in return

beware those who are quick to censor

they are afraid of what they do not know

beware those who seek constant crowds for

they are nothing alone

beware the average man the average woman

beware their love, their love is average

seeks average

 

but there is genius in their hatred

there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you

to kill anybody

not wanting solitude

not understanding solitude

they will attempt to destroy anything

that differs from their own

not being able to create art

they will not understand art

they will consider their failure as creators

only as a failure of the world

not being able to love fully

they will believe your love incomplete

and then they will hate you

and their hatred will be perfect

 

like a shining diamond

like a knife

like a mountain

like a tiger

like hemlock

 

their finest art

[ben is a sandwich]

thanks for that!