Reading Bukowski

a trace of tough self-love

Self Portrait photo by A.B. Godfreed

Reading
you, Bukowski, is
pure inspiration — in
turn of phrase,
w/ emotion laced
angst all over the place
in the open
heart
of your prolific prose
poetry
pulsating,
amazing,
sheer grace
in the face
of

don’t know what’s becoming of me
here

& yet, I thank you

for now
I remember —
I’m slowly learning
how to also live out on a limb of uncomfortable
uncompromising
discomfort rubs me up
all in the wrong way
but I sit
on it
understanding
it’s not abuse
it’s instead, a form of
resuscitation

this hard-done-by feeling
is strangling
the timidity out of
don’t know if I can
but
I can’t
no, I don’t
and…