'40,000' by Charles Bukowski
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at the track today,
Father's Day,
each paid admission was
entitled to a wallet
and each contained a
little surprise.
most of the men seemed
between 30 and 55,
going to fat,
many of them in walking
shorts,
they had gone stale in
life,
flattened out....
in fact, damn it, they
aren't even worth writing
about!
why am I doing
this?
these don't even
deserve a death bed,
these little walking
whales,
only there are so
many of
them,
in the urinals,
in the food lines,
they have managed to
survive
in a most limited
sense
but when you see
so many of them
like that,
there and not there,
breathing, farting,
commenting,
waiting for a thunder
that will not arrive,
waiting for the charging
white horse of
Glory,
waiting for the lovely
female that is not
there,
waiting to WIN,
waiting for the great
dream to
engulf them
but they do nothing,
they clomp in their
sandals,
gnaw at hot dogs
dog style,
gulping at the
meat,
they complain about
losing,
blame the jocks,
drink green
beer,
the parking lot is
jammed with their
unpaid for
cars,
the jocks mount
again for another
race,
the men press
toward the betting
windows
mesmerized,
fathers and non-fathers
Monday is waiting
for them,
this is the last
big lark.
and the horses are
totally
beautiful.
it is shocking how
beautiful they
are
at that time,
at that place,
their life shines
through;
miracles happen,
even in
hell.
I decide to stay for
one more
race.
from Transit magazine, 1994
Editor 1 Interpretation
Charles Bukowski's 40,000: A Masterpiece of Urban Poetry
As a young writer, I was introduced to the works of Charles Bukowski, and I was instantly hooked. His gritty, raw, and unapologetic style spoke to me in a way that no other writer had before. His poems were like a punch in the gut, a wake-up call to the realities of life that many people try to ignore.
One of Bukowski's most famous poems is "40,000," a haunting and powerful piece that captures the essence of urban life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "40,000" and analyze how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
Themes
At its core, "40,000" is a poem about despair, loneliness, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to offer nothing but pain and suffering. The speaker of the poem is a man who is wandering the streets of the city, feeling lost and disconnected from the world around him.
Throughout the poem, the speaker is searching for something, but he is not sure what it is. He wanders aimlessly, watching the people around him, searching for some kind of connection, some kind of purpose. But all he finds is emptiness and despair.
The theme of loneliness is particularly strong in this poem. The speaker is surrounded by people, but he feels completely alone. He watches the couples walking hand in hand, and he feels a deep sense of envy and longing. He longs for someone to share his life with, someone to love and be loved by.
The poem also touches on the theme of mortality. The speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality, and he is haunted by the specter of death. He sees the homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk, and he knows that he could end up like that one day, alone and forgotten.
Imagery
Bukowski is a master of imagery, and "40,000" is full of vivid and evocative descriptions of the city and its inhabitants. The poem is set on a hot summer night, and Bukowski uses imagery to create a sense of heat and discomfort.
The city itself is portrayed as a harsh and unforgiving place, full of danger and despair. The streets are crowded with people, but they are all lost and alone, like the speaker himself. The neon lights and flickering street lamps create a surreal and unsettling atmosphere, adding to the sense of isolation and despair.
Bukowski also uses imagery to create a sense of contrast between the speaker and the world around him. The couples walking hand in hand are a stark contrast to the speaker's own loneliness, highlighting his sense of isolation and despair.
Language
Bukowski's language in "40,000" is simple and direct, but it is also incredibly powerful. He uses short, sharp sentences to create a sense of urgency and intensity, and he employs repetition to emphasize certain themes and ideas.
The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter. This gives Bukowski the freedom to experiment with language and create a more naturalistic style of poetry.
Bukowski also uses language to create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker is searching for something, but he is not sure what it is. He feels a sense of longing and emptiness, but he is not sure how to fill the void. This sense of uncertainty adds to the poem's overall sense of despair and isolation.
Analysis
At its core, "40,000" is a poem about the human condition. It is a bleak and uncompromising portrayal of life in the modern world, a world that is often harsh, cruel, and unforgiving.
The poem is full of despair, but it is not without hope. The speaker is searching for something, and even though he is not sure what it is, he is still searching. This sense of hope, even in the face of despair, is what makes the poem so powerful.
Bukowski's use of imagery and language is what gives the poem its raw power. The vivid descriptions of the city and its inhabitants create a sense of tension and unease, while the simple and direct language adds to the poem's emotional intensity.
The poem's themes of loneliness, mortality, and the search for meaning are universal, and they resonate deeply with readers. The speaker's sense of isolation and despair is something that many people can relate to, and the poem's message of hope in the face of despair is something that is both poignant and inspiring.
Conclusion
"40,000" is a masterpiece of urban poetry, a powerful and haunting portrayal of the human condition. Bukowski's use of imagery and language is masterful, creating a vivid and evocative portrait of life in the modern world.
The poem's themes of loneliness, mortality, and the search for meaning are universal, and they resonate deeply with readers. The poem is a bleak and uncompromising portrayal of life, but it is not without hope. The speaker's sense of isolation and despair is something that many people can relate to, and the poem's message of hope in the face of despair is something that is both poignant and inspiring.
Overall, "40,000" is a work of art that speaks to the human experience in a way that few other works of literature can. It is a testament to Bukowski's genius as a writer, and it is a poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Introduction
Charles Bukowski is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. His works are known for their raw, unfiltered, and often controversial themes. One of his most famous poems is "40,000," which was first published in 1978. In this poem, Bukowski explores the themes of mortality, the human condition, and the inevitability of death. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
Meaning
The poem "40,000" is a reflection on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The title of the poem refers to the number of people who die every day. Bukowski uses this number to emphasize the sheer scale of death and the fact that it is a constant presence in our lives. The poem begins with the line "life is a horse," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Bukowski is comparing life to a horse, which is a powerful and unpredictable force. He is suggesting that life is something that we cannot control, and that we are at its mercy.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. Bukowski writes, "death sits in the saddle / and drives a horse made of emptiness." Here, he is personifying death and portraying it as a powerful force that is in control of our lives. The image of death riding a horse made of emptiness is particularly striking. It suggests that death is a void, a nothingness that consumes everything in its path.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the human condition. Bukowski writes, "we are all going to die / all of us / what a circus!" Here, he is acknowledging the fact that death is something that we all have in common. It is the great equalizer, and it does not discriminate based on race, gender, or social status. The use of the word "circus" is particularly interesting. It suggests that life is a spectacle, a show that we are all a part of. It also suggests that death is a part of that show, and that we are all performers in the grand drama of life.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death. Bukowski writes, "it's just a matter of time / before we're all called back / to the darkness / and the void." Here, he is acknowledging the fact that death is something that we cannot escape. No matter how hard we try, we will all eventually succumb to it. The use of the words "darkness" and "void" is particularly powerful. It suggests that death is not just the end of life, but the end of everything. It is a void that consumes everything in its path.
Structure
The structure of the poem is relatively simple. It consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This gives Bukowski the freedom to explore his themes in a more organic and natural way. The lack of a specific structure also reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life and death.
The poem is also characterized by its use of repetition. The phrase "life is a horse" is repeated twice in the poem, which emphasizes its importance. The repetition of the phrase "all of us" in the third stanza also emphasizes the fact that death is something that we all have in common. The repetition of the word "void" in the final stanza is particularly powerful. It emphasizes the fact that death is not just the end of life, but the end of everything.
Literary Devices
Bukowski uses a number of literary devices in the poem to convey his message. One of the most prominent is personification. He personifies death as a powerful force that is in control of our lives. This is particularly evident in the second stanza, where he writes, "death sits in the saddle / and drives a horse made of emptiness." The use of personification makes death seem more tangible and real, which emphasizes its importance.
Bukowski also uses metaphor to convey his message. The metaphor of life as a horse is particularly powerful. It suggests that life is something that we cannot control, and that we are at its mercy. The metaphor of death as a void is also particularly effective. It emphasizes the fact that death is not just the end of life, but the end of everything.
The poem also makes use of imagery. The image of death riding a horse made of emptiness is particularly striking. It emphasizes the power and inevitability of death. The image of life as a circus is also particularly effective. It suggests that life is a spectacle, a show that we are all a part of.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "40,000" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality, the human condition, and the inevitability of death. Bukowski's use of personification, metaphor, and imagery make the poem particularly effective. The poem's structure, with its repetition and lack of a specific rhyme scheme or meter, reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life and death. Overall, "40,000" is a testament to Bukowski's skill as a poet and his ability to explore complex themes in a simple and direct way.
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