Em

“nobody but you

nobody can save you but
yourself.
you will be put again and again
into nearly impossible
situations.
they will attempt again and again
through subterfuge, guise and
force
to make you submit, quit and /or die quietly
inside.

nobody can save you but
yourself
and it will be easy enough to fail
so very easily
but don’t, don’t, don’t.
just watch them.
listen to them.
do you want to be like that?
a faceless, mindless, heartless
being?
do you want to experience
death before death?

nobody can save you but
yourself
and you’re worth saving.
it’s a war not easily won
but if anything is worth winning then
this is it.

think about it.
think about saving your self.
your spiritual self.
your gut self.
your singing magical self and
your beautiful self.
save it.
don’t join the dead-in-spirit.

maintain your self
with humor and grace
and finally
if necessary
wager your self as you struggle,
damn the odds, damn
the price.

only you can save your
self.

do it! do it!

then you’ll know exactly what
I am talking about.”
― Charles Bukowski

“след това Глендолайн изнесе ръкописа си и започна да ни чете. Всъщност не беше лош, но беше съвсем аматьорски и трябваше да се редактира из основи. Глендолайн пишеше така, все едно на читателя ще му е също толкова интересно да научи за нейния живот, колкото и на самата нея — смъртоносна грешка.”
― Charles Bukowski, Women

“it's the same as before
or the other time
or the time before that.
here's a cock
and here's a cunt
and here's trouble.

only each time
you think
well now I've learned:
I'll let her do that
and I'll do this,
I no longer want it all,
just some comfort
and some sex
and only a minor
love.

now I'm waiting again
and the years run thin.
I have my radio
and the kitchen walls
are yellow.
I keep dumping bottles
and listening
for footsteps.

I hope that death contains
less than this.”
― Charles Bukowski, Love Is a Dog from Hell

“Събудих се от някакъв шум. Още беше тъмно. Сесилия обикаляше из стаята и се обличаше.
Погледнах си часовника.
— Часът е пет — казах. — Какво правиш?
— Искам да гледам изгрева. Обожавам изгреви!
— Нищо чудно, че не пиеш.
— Ще се върна. Можем да закусваме заедно.
— Не съм закусвал от четирийсет години.
— Отивам да гледам изгрева, Ханк.”
― Charles Bukowski, Women