THE FULL READING (poem)

Somewhere up there - in that great beyond - I hope that Chuck Buk isn't laughing. While I would in no way fancy myself a poet, I will say that the form itself is a wonderful way to tell a short story. It's slightly abstract and perhaps a tad mystical. I hope everyone enjoys.THE FULL READINGThe mystic told me to stay awayin that cold way they do.I didn’t know if she trulydid know anything butshit, she certainly soundedlike it, looking at meall suspicious...

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WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID - CARVER POEM

The genius that is American writer, Raymond Carver...While post upon post can be written about Carver's life and work, let's just say that for all intents and purposes, his simplistic, yet utterly effective prose will send shivers down many a spine. He wasn't only one of the world's finest writers of short fiction, but also one of its most large-hearted and affecting poets.Like Carver's stories, the more than 300 poems are marked by a keen attention...

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NIRVANA (Bukowski poem)

In this super-quick update, check out this Chuck Buk poem "Nirvana." It's quite different for Bukowski. It seems to be at a slower pace. He's somewhere peaceful, somewhere the young Bukowski perhaps would've liked to have stayed.In a weird way, it's the ultra-American poem. Truck stop diner; waitresses. The whole bit... Enjoy.Before you check out the poem, though, click HERE to hear an awesome NPR radio show about Bukowski."Nirvana"not much chance,completely...

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WORDLE'S SKID ROW SCRIBES

Not exactly sure how, what or why Wordle exists but... hey, the app makes cool-looking word clouds. According to the site, Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that the author provides. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print...

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THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BOURBON DRINKERS (poem)

On this Wednesday evening, I give everyone this odd, original poem about a little boy and the creation of a future drunk.THE SECRET SOCIETYOF BOURBON DRINKERSEvery other night they convenedto talk about whatever. Be it the Yeti,price of Gold, horsesor who was on Carson,they’d yap it up together.And all over Kentucky’s sweet nectar.I was about eight or so when Iattended my first gathering.My uncle snuck me into the backdoor of this backwoods juke...

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THE WORLD'S GREATEST LOSER

Thanks heaven for YouTube. Enjoy this Bukowski gem - a spoken word performance of Buk's "The World's Greatest Lose...

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SOCIOPATH IN THE SHADOWS (poem)

Hmmm, not sure entirely where this new prose poem came from. I mean, yes, I wrote it, but not sure how or why. As I started writing, I kept having images of solitude, torment, mania and horror. In any case, enjoy this short piece that explores the notion of a few different things - be it addiction, inner demons or just that person who all hate to love. THE DEADBEATSitting byself, downstairs, I heard hisvoice. The sociopath the shadows.Again.And then...

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'BIG NIGHT ON THE TOWN' (BUKOWSKI POEM)

In most of my circles, I get the impression from most of my uppity buddies that the works of writer Charles Bukowski are grossly undervalued. I'll hear something like, "Bukowski? Whatever ..." Blow me. You know who you are.It's a crime. The more and more I discover his often anti-social prose - and believe you-me, there's a ton of it - the more I discover something new and intriguing. In this quick update, check out this poem that explores the notion...

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'US IN TWILIGHT' (guest poet)

I have a friend. An elitist, Oxford-educated buddy named Edoardo who constantly scoffs at the very existence of certain pop culture mainstays. We could argue that worth of scribes like Kerouac and Corso for hours. Long heated hours. Still, he's a classic guy. A scholar. Interesting that he would drum up such a dreamy, beatnicky poem. I dug it so much, I had to post it. Enjoy..."Us In Twilight"I dig with two handsbut digging is a nod of the headto...

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THE OTHER SIDE OF KEROUAC

Enjoy the review of this book, located proudly on the shelves in the library of Hemingway's Lounge. I reviewed the tome YEARS ago, but the book it still a consistent seller at Amazon. Enjoy!Like Hemingway, writer Jack Kerouac has ingrained himself into the very fabric of “The American Literary Experience. Where Hemingway was distinguished, Kerouac was cool. The pop culture’s guy’s guy.A hip scribe who’d think nothing of hopping a freighter in the...

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CARVER POEM: 'THE SCRATCH'

You gotta wonder what goes through a guy's head sometimes.In Raymond Carver's case, he's living proof that everything - anything - is fodder for art, prose and the like. Enjoy ...The ScratchI woke up with a spot of bloodover my eye. A scratchhalfway across my forehead.But I'm sleeping alone these days.Why on earth would a man raise his handagainst himself, even in sleep?It's this and similar questionsI'm trying to answer this morning.As I study my...

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THE ZEPPO MARX OF THE BEATS

While watching my new DVD "What Happened to Kerouac?," I inadvertently discovered an awesome beat poet - Gregory Corso. Check out this heartfelt short poem from his collection "Gasoline" "Birthplace Revisited"I stand in the dark light in the dark street and look up at my window, I was born there. The lights are on; other people are moving about. I am with raincoat; cigarette in mouth, hat over eye, hand on gat. I cross the street and enter the building....

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TO THE WHORE WHO STOLE HIS POEMS

It's said that Charles Bukowski got more 'tang than a WWII sailor on a weekend pass. Chicks dug him for his Bukowski-ness. Whatever that means. Early in his life it's said many girls found him depraved-looking. Truth be told, he was a weird-lookin' dude. But also, he was one of those dudes that grew into his looks. Call it the upside of being a man. Yeah, we may drop dead first, but if we're lucky, we'll age like fine wine. Or in Bukowski's case,...

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HONEYMOON AT THE ATOMIC (poem)

Back in July I had the fortune of tying the knot in Las Vegas on 777, something I've always wanted to do. Me and the Mrs. were lucky. It was a great time and people we cared about were with us. We ate and drank lavishly and stayed at a gorgeous strip hotel. But what about those people who took the plunge in the fair city who weren't as fortunate? What if no one cared? Posing that question, I give you this narrative poem. Enjoy...HONEYMOON AT THE...

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