This is what poets are supposed to do and this is why Bukowski was a truly great one.
From his classic book, Betting on the Muse.
the laughing heart
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
Ardin Lalui
Beautiful poem. I’m writing a post about Waits and Bukowski myself and came across this. I’m excited because I’m a writer in Canada and this looks like an interesting blog to follow.
Tom Waits introduced me to Charles Bukowski « Small Change: the blog of author Ardin Lalui
[…] here is a video of Waits reading Bukowski’s poem, The Laughing Heart, from Betting on the […]
Tom Waits introduced me to Charles Bukowski « Small Change: Ardin Laluis Blog
[…] here is a video of Waits reading Bukowski’s poem, The Laughing Heart, from Betting on the […]