Do you think you'd of got along with Buk?
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chronic
old and in the way
I would have gotten along with him. The reason I think this is that when I met him and spent a bit of time talking to him we got along just fine. Of course, he was relatively sober at the time. If he were shitfaced it's hard to say, though I usually get along with drunks alright if they're not especially belligerent.
One thing that strikes me is that, myths and legends not withstanding, Bukowski was just a regular guy. People talk and write about him as if he were some sort of an anomaly with a very unusual lifestyle. I've known dozens of people just like him (in terms of lifestyle). The only real difference between him and other people like him was that he had a rare gift of expression and talent for writing, and he had the drive to continue to express himself when most others would have given up.
One thing that strikes me is that, myths and legends not withstanding, Bukowski was just a regular guy. People talk and write about him as if he were some sort of an anomaly with a very unusual lifestyle. I've known dozens of people just like him (in terms of lifestyle). The only real difference between him and other people like him was that he had a rare gift of expression and talent for writing, and he had the drive to continue to express himself when most others would have given up.
Hosh
hoshomccreesh.com
Who's to say if I would've got along with him...but I do know the simple fact of his work gave me pause, when dealing with drunks. I used to bounce & when I did I'd occasionally think about how the guy I was throwing out was no different than Buk, my brother, my friends, or even no different than me--if I was out drinking instead of working...so it was a real gift that I got from the work.
I also picked grapes in Switzerland & there was this drunken asshole that everyone hated--but I thought he was really hilarious--in particular how he always got a rise out of everyone. My nick-name for him: Bukowski.
I also picked grapes in Switzerland & there was this drunken asshole that everyone hated--but I thought he was really hilarious--in particular how he always got a rise out of everyone. My nick-name for him: Bukowski.
Father Luke
Founding member
At what age. . .
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Just read what a pain in the ass I am and the answer is clear. But, If I were in a bar and Hank Chinaski was there and needed a drink....He'd get me to buy Him a drink, in fact, several drinks. I'd stagger out of there later thinking, Wow! what a nice guy that Hank is. Of course he only wanted a drink and knew I needed attention.
That was probably the scenario of many of his acquaintances, just the source of another much needed drink.
A guy like me, like here, just needed someone to listen to them. Oh how we savor the attention of others. Stroke, stroke, stroke.
Bukowski wrote a short story about a benefactor in a bar with plenty of money who ultimately gets thrown under the bus.
I'm sure he got sick of listening intently for hours, for drinks.
It 's no wonder he wrote how he hated people. I would not count on him giving me the time of day, I will continue to buy his books. Thank you very much, I owe you a drink.
That was probably the scenario of many of his acquaintances, just the source of another much needed drink.
A guy like me, like here, just needed someone to listen to them. Oh how we savor the attention of others. Stroke, stroke, stroke.
Bukowski wrote a short story about a benefactor in a bar with plenty of money who ultimately gets thrown under the bus.
I'm sure he got sick of listening intently for hours, for drinks.
It 's no wonder he wrote how he hated people. I would not count on him giving me the time of day, I will continue to buy his books. Thank you very much, I owe you a drink.
bospress.net
www.bospress.net
Hank would probably tolerate me, and would be polite, but secretly find me to be a pain in the ass.
That is just how it is. Fans rarely make good friends. The problem is that the fan usually does not realize this. Of course, the "star" does.
Bill
That is just how it is. Fans rarely make good friends. The problem is that the fan usually does not realize this. Of course, the "star" does.
Bill
mjp
Founding member
I got along wonderfully with Bukowski when he was alive.
I never went to his house and knocked on his door with a six pack under each arm, never wrote him a letter, called him on the phone, interrupted him at the track or a restaurant - in fact I never even met him.
That was all he asked of our friendship, that I leave him alone and buy his books. All I asked of him is that he keep writing them. I did my part and he did his. We were the greatest of friends.
I never went to his house and knocked on his door with a six pack under each arm, never wrote him a letter, called him on the phone, interrupted him at the track or a restaurant - in fact I never even met him.
That was all he asked of our friendship, that I leave him alone and buy his books. All I asked of him is that he keep writing them. I did my part and he did his. We were the greatest of friends.
well said, mjp.
Father Luke
Founding member
Bukfan
"The law is wrong; I am right"
That's right! Who wants a fan drooling all over you? Unless you like to hold court, which Buk did'nt...
mjp: Spot on!
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the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
his daughter marina said that to know his writing was to know the man, that he spoke perfectly candidly in his writing of what his life was about. so i guess, if you have read him, and the words have spoken to you, you have got along with bukowski.
LickTheStar
Sad Flower in the Sand
Nope. I don't drink and don't like to spend time with people when they are drinking.
Weird huh?
Weird huh?
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
You must be a member. Not weird, you sound like a very sane man. Bukowski would have liked you.
Very well said-if I was lucky enough to meet him in his life I would've just thanked him and went along my way.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Thereallygoodpoetis the one that wrote that. Like Slimedog said.....I'd thank him too.
Thank you!
Bukfan
"The law is wrong; I am right"
Good point! Well said, theonlygoodpoetisa!
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
thanks slimedog, gerard k h love, and bukfan!
it's not the best choice of username. i've thought about changing it. Charles Somebody (from the poem somebody in Mockingbird) came to mind.
it's not the best choice of username. i've thought about changing it. Charles Somebody (from the poem somebody in Mockingbird) came to mind.
He wouldn't have liked me. I have no tits or gash. Nuff said.
non compos mentis
Supporting good poetry
If we were both waiting at a bus stop and not speaking to each other and otherwise ignoring each other I think we would get along just fine. I'm kind of like him in that I like having people around as long as they aren't bothering me and I don't have to interact with them. But their presence is company enough. Like mjp said.
I think charles would have been disgusted with me, but I reckon I could
have put some work in and got a few laughs out of him, in the end though
i think he would have probably kicked me out.:)
have put some work in and got a few laughs out of him, in the end though
i think he would have probably kicked me out.:)
vodka
Miss Take
to be very, very honest here - i would have been terrified of him. some people have a way of drinking and becoming very unpredictable. it appears, through what i've seen, that he was one of those people. flog me if i'm wrong i'm okay with that. now, having lived with a few very unpredictable drunks, my mother included - i get very edgy and brittle when put in that situation. i imagine hanging around him, if he were very drunk, would make me feel the same way.
i wonder what he would have been like if he were sober for a long time...
p.s. nice picture collage there Father Luke. do you find yourself identifying more with older Bukowski or younger Bukowski? ;)
i wonder what he would have been like if he were sober for a long time...
p.s. nice picture collage there Father Luke. do you find yourself identifying more with older Bukowski or younger Bukowski? ;)
he would have liked me alright. or at least he would have liked the crazed drunk women i hang around. then i would have started talking about writing, rambling on and being a complete nerd about things, and he woulld be like "mother fucker! fuck off!"
note: i think super old bukowski would have liked damn near anyone.
note: i think super old bukowski would have liked damn near anyone.
planahea
RIP
I got along wonderfully with Bukowski when he was alive.
I never went to his house and knocked on his door with a six pack under each arm, never wrote him a letter, called him on the phone, interrupted him at the track or a restaurant - in fact I never even met him.
That was all he asked of our friendship, that I leave him alone and sell his books. All I asked of him is that he keep writing them. I did my part and he did his. We were the greatest of friends.
In addition, he would periodically send me personally inscribed copies of some of his books ( I suspect right after he got a particularly large BSP royalty check.) as freebies which I treasure to this day. I think he would be pissed off if he knew I "treasured" them.
(with appreciation to mjp for my partial theft of his words) :D
I never went to his house and knocked on his door with a six pack under each arm, never wrote him a letter, called him on the phone, interrupted him at the track or a restaurant - in fact I never even met him.
That was all he asked of our friendship, that I leave him alone and sell his books. All I asked of him is that he keep writing them. I did my part and he did his. We were the greatest of friends.
In addition, he would periodically send me personally inscribed copies of some of his books ( I suspect right after he got a particularly large BSP royalty check.) as freebies which I treasure to this day. I think he would be pissed off if he knew I "treasured" them.
(with appreciation to mjp for my partial theft of his words) :D
Father Luke
Founding member
vodka said:
as i get older i identify more with younger
him. i have the wisdom of perspective.
hope that helps.
the only people Buk wanted to get along with for any length of time were certain women. The length of time they got along depended on certain factors (his age, her sexiness, his infatuation, her love...to name a few).
I am the same way. So, no, I wouldn't have gotten along with him. At least not for more than an hour or two.
But I get along fine with him while reading his novels and poetry.
I am the same way. So, no, I wouldn't have gotten along with him. At least not for more than an hour or two.
But I get along fine with him while reading his novels and poetry.
Father Luke
Founding member
care to elaborate?