Quotes

"that night I couldn’t destroy her although the springs shot sparks
and they pounded on the walls.
later she sat there in her slip
drinking Old Grandad
and she said
what’s a guy like you doing
living in a dump like this?
and I said
I’m a poet

and she threw back her beautiful head and laughed."

In this poem, Bukowski writes about the two things which hurt him most: women's beauty and his desire to be recognized for the worth of his poetry. This woman whom he's talking about in the excerpt manages to inflict both types of pain on him. First off, she's gorgeous in all the right ways, but he can't satisfy her. Her beauty drives him so crazy that he wants to destroy it, but he can't. Then, when they're finished, she laughs at him for claiming to be a poet, without ever having read his work. He's crushed once more, only increasing his hatred of women.

"and I am
reduced to bird
watching.

just thought I'd
let you
know,
f***er."

Bukowski has an antagonistic relationship to his readers. This poem seems to be entirely dedicated to his frustration of appreciation. He feels that he must sacrifice his integrity in order to please his audience, which he does out of desperation. Frowning upon bird watching, he does so in order to write this poem. Then he expresses his absolute frustration at his compromised position.

"'I’ve been thinking about getting a
piano. but then I’ve been thinking about getting a
violin too but I can’t make up my
mind!'
'buy a piano.'
'you think
so?'
'yes.'

he walks away
thinking about
it.

I was thinking about it
too: I figure he can always come over with his
violin and more
sad music."

In this quotation, Bukowski offers insight into how he handles his intimate relationships. He's close friends with this man named Peter, but they seem to be tense with each other. By asking which instrument to buy, he subtly offers Peter an out from their friendship. He chooses piano, however, which means he's quietly rooting for the success of their relationship. He owns a violin, so he urges Bukowski to buy a piano; he can bring the violin over.

"and I leaned over and bit Marylou on the ear
and the whole joint rocked with music and freedom
and I decided that Russia was too far away
and Hollywood Park just close enough."

Throughout his poems, Bukowski writes about his big plans: wanting to change, to stand up for himself, to escape the capitalist system. When he gets drunk and finds himself in the company of a beautiful woman, however, like in this poem, he loses his resolve. After the alcohol is flowing and a good-looking woman flirts with him, he no longer feels convicted to do anything other than celebrate. Desire is an uphill battle which has always afflicted creative types.