My First Affair With That Older Woman Poem by Charles Bukowski

My First Affair With That Older Woman

Rating: 3.1


when I look back now

at the abuse I took from

her

I feel shame that I was so

innocent,

but I must say

she did match me drink for

drink,

and I realized that her life

her feelings for things

had been ruined

along the way

and that I was no mare than a

temporary

companion;

she was ten years older

and mortally hurt by the past

and the present;

she treated me badly:

desertion, other

men;

she brought me immense

pain,

continually;

she lied, stole;

there was desertion,

other men,

yet we had our moments; and

our little soap opera ended

with her in a coma

in the hospital,

and I sat at her bed

for hours

talking to her,

and then she opened her eyes

and saw me:

"I knew it would be you,"

she said.

then hse closed her

eyes.


the next day she was

dead.


I drank alone

for two years

after that.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Paul S 06 December 2019

Tremendous sorrow handled with efficiency. Instead of being maudlin and overly sentimental, Bukowski just tells the facts. The reader supplies the emotion.

0 0 Reply
Andrew Quintana 29 September 2009

I feel the subject matter is very strong and he handles it with such directness. I think the reason we feel so close to this poem is because the writer is really talking to us giving us a reason to care. The title also gives us a sense of the story. My First Affair With That Older Woman when I look back now at the abuse I took from her I feel shame that I was so innocent It really brings down that stereotype that only men can take advantage of women. It provides with another way to view the male vs. female power struggle. Wonderful poem! ! ! ! !

3 1 Reply
Ross Vassilev 04 February 2008

one of his best poems

2 0 Reply
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