The Laughing Heart
your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvellous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
Charles Bukowski
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvellous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
Charles Bukowski
And now head over to Calum's. Tom waits. ...
Gritty, unpleasant but I have a soft spot for his work. Have you read any of his novels?
ReplyDeleteGreat that it´s read by Tom Waits.
ReplyDeleteBertus
That was a beauty!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the piece and the link.
Jams,
ReplyDeletesame with me.
Interesting: While checking the title's - five books; short stories, no novel - I got surprised. I thought I had read Bukowski in my very early 20th. In fact, I did almost a decade later.
Bertus,
read by Bono I'd not have posted it. Glad you like it.
Calum,
you are welcome. I thought after this some visitors might feel fancy for a Sunday Morning Coffee with Tom Waits, and if the Sunday happened to be a Wednesday or ...
can't think of anything profound or clever to say
ReplyDeleteso I will just say thank you for posting this
Thank you, Sean.Very well read by Tom Waits.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------
If only Charles Bukowski had not also said (in a letter to Steven Richmond, among many similar, unpleasant words):
"The female is skilled at betrayal and torture and damnation."
"Never envy a man his lady. Behind it all lays a living hell."
---------------------------------
Happy Belated Birthday, Charles. From the multitude of women you have loved and left, and who have inspired your prolific, sometimes sensitive, also very painful writing. RIP!
JD,
ReplyDeletewhat shall I say/write?
Not all we say has to be profound or clever (the latter not necessarily a positive attribute).
Your simple 'thank you' does tell a lot and is much appreciated.
The peace of the night, and a lovely 'Scottish weekend' to you and yours.
Claude,
thank you.
I intended to read it myself, but after having listened ten? 15? times to Tom waits I am convinced: there's no need.
Glad you give an example for Bukowski's exorbitant stupidity. Sometimes I am not sure whether he meant what he said or just served 'public expectations'.
Anyway, if nothing he achieved: He proved that he who writes a lot of rubbish sometimes might write some lines that are just wonderful.