BUKOWSKI'S CHAIR.

A GHOSTLY VISIT BY BUKOWSKI.

Bukowski’s in the chair
Opposite with a phantom
Beer and the cigarette’s lit

And he lies back with his
Legs crossed at the ankles
With that steely stare and

Half a dozen ghostly cats
Brushing at his bare feet
And he takes in a deep drag

Of the cigarette, then lets
Out the smoke real slow,
Watching its journey, the

Twists and turns and rings
Developing and vanishing
And mutters through the

Remaining grey a few lines
Of poetry, a few lines he’d
Not said before, still comes

To me, he says, even on this
Side of things, never complain
About the muse, even on dry

Dusty days when nothing
Comes, be ready, semi sober
And thankful for what she

Gives and what she brings.
Bukowski’s gone now, the
Chair’s vacated, no more cats

Or beer or smoke from the
Cigarette; but he was there,
Momentarily, large as life

In death, still writing and
Drinking and smoking with
No sign of remorse or regret.

Reviews

[Tara]

He was the man. Love the reality of him. Nice tribute. He comes every now and then to my chair too.

[SR Urie]

Hiya Terry,
Great write, man. the B man was a model for us all. Thanks for sharing. (sure am glad I was able to quit smoking, but I still love to drink and Schubert)
BZ!!

[just rose.]

...which was probably why he was so great. He didn't seem to have that ... I don't know, conscience or little doubtful voice in his mind and if it DID come up, he kind of shooed it away. He was unrepentant. But he knew who he was. "for those readers now/sick at heart/believing that I'm a contented/man -/please have some/cheer: agony sometimes changes/form/but/it never ceases for/anybody." In this poem you capture the quality of presence/absence that his life and work evokes.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I do like Bukowski. This is a wonderful write, top notch. I love the format you use for your poetry i have read thus far. My formats are always the same it seems.
I am glad to know even Bukowski had those days when nothing much came as it is for me as of late.
A very nice ghostly visit .. you write so very well!

Chloe