One of my favourite writers is the late Mr.Charles Bukowski. My Favourite opening line to one of his stories (Not Quite Bernadette), is,
" I wrapped the towel around my bloody cock and phoned the doctors office"
Is there a better first line to a story/novel? One that definitely makes you want to read on.
Or alternatly…whats your all time favourite Bukowski yarn? Copulating Mermaid… anyone?
Wow, I haven’t thought about Bukowski in years. I read some Bukowski in the early 80s, so I can’t remember any titles right now, but it seems to me one was something like The Pill vs. …something (maybe the Springfield Mining Disaster???). I liked some of his poetry, too. I liked what you said about the first line above; certainly he wrote great titles. Your OP made me pull out the poetry anthology I have, which includes 3 books of his:
Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame; It Catches My Heart In Its Hands; Crucifix in a Deathhand; and At Terror Street and Agony Way. Great titles, all.
The only poem of his I really, really liked was this one:
Some People
Some people never go crazy.
Me, sometimes I will lie behind the couch
for 3 or 4 days.
they’ll find me there.
it’s Cherub, they’ll say, and
they pour wine down my throat
rub my chest
sprinkle me with oils.
then, I’ll rise with a roar,
rant, rage-
curse them and the universe
as I send them scattering over the
lawn.
I’ll feel much better,
sit down to toast and eggs,
hum a little tune,
suddenly becoming as lovable as a
pink
overfed whale.
some people never go crazy.
what truly horrible lives
they must lead.
The book was given to me by my first boyfriend, who also pointed out that particular poem to me. Obviously the poem truly spoke to him as he committed suicide several years later.
The poem you typed was Bukowski, but the title you refer to in your opening paragraph, The Pill vs. the Springhill Mine Disaster was written by Brautigan. Another incredible writer.
Used to read a lot of Bukowski. Stories more than poetry, but there’s one poem… I can’t remember it, you’ll have to help me. I think it was from “Sometimes you get so alone that it just makes sense”. He’s driving along and gets pulled over by a cop, who proceeds to ask for his licence and give him a ticket, etc. Throughout all of this Bukowski never says a word, and by the time the cop asks “Why don’t you speak?”, his hand is shaking. The cop’s, that is. Bukowski just shrugs and drives off.
One thing I’ll say: Bukowski is cool.