After Reading Bukowski

Ah Bukowski
You old dog
How do you do it?
How do you always make me feel better?

You confessed your trick –
‘No grand statement’
Which is fine
Because there can’t be
When you’re on this level of honesty
and when you’re celebrating
Like you do

He takes you there, Buk
Old Buk
To the string vest
Sweat
Beardiness
German slob
So German
Watching the Americans
Liking his pussy
Loving his drink
Tapping at the type-writer
Pre-empting critics
And playing

But he takes you there
To the memories
The stock images – whore, fighting sailor, roominghouse with cockroaches & crazy neighbour, naked co-ed, Hollywood party, drink, fire

But there’s something universal too
He saw because he did.

As he taps,
Shrugging
Experimenting
Grinning
Slugging
His cat lolling
His wife huffing
He smiles
and
We see