His Likeness

His Likeness

I have been informed

Bukowski wrote

as and for everyman

his following is a multitude

Bukowski wrote for everyman

I guess that implies

I am an abusive drunk

who writes from the bottle

or the bottom of a beer can

as an everyman

I poem to a certain extent

but do not need a face for my fist

or bleeding cut in which to insert my pen

I write in silent introspection

gave up the alcoholic treks

still suck the Stone Sour Cherries

tie the stems with my tongue

but I write for everyman

I have been informed 

of that

yet

I don't see Charles when

I peer into the poetic mirror

I swear I don't

and then pass out.

erin-cilberto

1/31/2021

Reviews

[Cassie]

This is Witty in some sense. you have a way of turning negativity around through your poetry, you do not write from some beer bottle unless you get high on something else that is needful..your poetry is great

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Cassie,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Bukowski was abusive. I wonder whether he wrote anything in a sober state. A drunk, not my type of poet, yet he has a huge following. Thank goodness you do not see him when you look into the mirror. Your inspiration comes from many sources, drink isn't one of them.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Excuse me, let me put down my beer so I can type a response...thank you, Chris,
j.

[Dave]

It is sad to think that his excuse for being abusive to others is that he is an"artist."

Take care - Dave

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hear ya, Dave.
thank you.
j.

[Dave]

Good! Now tell people like this to f _ _ k off!

[poetgurl]

deep and emotional, and raw. Enjoyed your words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Ang-X...
j.

[andrew mitchell]

The catalyst or stimulus for this writer was alcohol. There are many ways to write and to get ideas, reading is one of them and current affairs.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, many other ways.
the drinking he did does not bother me...it was his abusive behavior...to me, that I'm the tortured artist so I can treat others anyway I want because I am an artist is bunk.
thank you, andrew,
j.

[Helen]

Your poems, Mr Erin-Cilberto, are too clever for me and this one is no exception, but I like it and particularly like the lines:

I am an abusive drunk
who writes from the bottle
or the bottom of a beer can

I did look up Mr Bukowski as I had not heard of him and noted some quotes of his that I like too ("some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead" - just for example). And then I searched for 'Charles Bukowski alcohol' which made a lot in your poem make sense. Reading about him brought to mind a quote from the book Alcoholics Anonymous "an alcoholic in his cups is an unlovely creature" and not sure he had the best views on women either.

I struggle reviewing when I don't feel qualified in knowledge or in intellect, but I did like this poem on my standards, which is it engaged me, gave me a sense of identification and - in this case - it interested me enough to try to gather more information to aid my understanding. I apologise in advance if I have missed the point, but I am a novice and have little in the way of formal education in writing, poetry and literary appreciation. But I am learning here, in the WritersCafe and I thank you for being part of that (expanding my mind).

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Helen,
You could never "miss the point."
My hope with my poetry is that the reader may relate in some way...no need to get "it" just "something"---that is my point.
Thank you for reading and relating...and for looking him up...He is not my cup of tea, never was.
thank you again,
j.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

We all do in some way are influence by other writers but still have our own unique styles. And your style ismetaphoricslly clever and humorous

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, kind sir.
j.