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back to the machine gun by Charles Bukowski

8/29/2008 2:55:55 AM
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Charles Bukowski Charles Bukowski
(1920 - 1994)
Free Poetry E-Book:
139 poems of Charles Bukowski

File Size: 660k  File Format: Acrobat Reader
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back to the machine gun
 
  I awaken about noon and go out to get the mail
in my old torn bathrobe.
I'm hung over
hair down in my eyes
barefoot
gingerly walking on the small sharp rocks
in my path
still afraid of pain behind my four-day beard.

the young housewife next door shakes a rug
out of her window and sees me:
"hello, Hank!"

god damn! it's almost like being shot in the ass
with a .22

"hello," I say
gathering up my Visa card bill, my Pennysaver coupons,
a Dept. of Water and Power past-due notice,
a letter from the mortgage people
plus a demand from the Weed Abatement Department
giving me 30 days to clean up my act.

I mince back again over the small sharp rocks
thinking, maybe I'd better write something tonight,
they all seem
to be closing in.

there's only one way to handle those motherfuckers.

the night harness races will have to wait.

Charles Bukowski


Read poems about / on: power, hair, water, people, pain, god, night

User Rating:

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(29 votes)



 
Comments about this poem (back to the machine gun by Charles Bukowski)  more comments >>
Click here to write your comments about this poem (back to the machine gun by Charles Bukowski)
 
Just Jes (4/30/2008 7:42:00 PM)
<- Does not agree with Ryan.
Thats like saying you have to be able to count Banyon Trees home to understand Hemmingway, who was also quite intese, and also at ime dry as salt
I get Bukowski and I'm a saint when it comes to drink and the common Alchie.
He's just a realist... Perhaps a drunk but not for me to judge on mend. The cats got style in a way that those who wrk at it never quit tee of on.
Ryan Rabe (1/25/2008 2:47:00 PM)
I think you have to be a true alcoholic to understand the intensity of this.

Read all 7 comments >>
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