'This' by Charles Bukowski
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self-congratulatory nonsense as the
famous gather to applaud their seeming
greatness
you
wonder where
the real ones are
what
giant cave
hides them
as
the deathly talentless
bow to
accolades
as
the fools are
fooled
again
you
wonder where
the real ones are
if there are
real ones.
this self-congratulatory nonsense
has lasted
decades
and
with some exceptions
centuries.
this
is so dreary
is so absolutely pitiless
it
churns the gut to
powder
shackles hope
it
makes little things
like
pulling up a shade
or
putting on your shoes
or
walking out on the street
more difficult
near
damnable
as
the famous gather to
applaud their
seeming
greatness
as
the fools are
fooled
again
humanity
you sick
motherfucker.
Editor 1 Interpretation
This by Charles Bukowski: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you ready to dive into the world of Charles Bukowski's poetry? Buckle up, because we're about to take a deep dive into one of his most famous poems, "This."
First published in Bukowski's 1984 collection "You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense," "This" is a prime example of Bukowski's raw and unfiltered style. Written in free verse with no rhyme scheme, the poem is a gritty yet poignant commentary on the human experience.
Let's start by breaking down the poem stanza by stanza.
Stanza One
this was when I was much younger and couldn't understand why a man would take a woman to bed and then leave her why he would go away why he would leave her alone why i couldn't understand and still can't.
Right from the first word, Bukowski grabs the reader's attention with a simple but powerful statement: "this." The lack of a capital letter and the absence of any context or introduction immediately create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty.
In the first few lines, Bukowski establishes the speaker's youth and inexperience. The speaker cannot understand why a man would take a woman to bed and then leave her alone. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which will explore the complicated and often painful dynamics of romantic relationships.
One of Bukowski's strengths as a poet is his ability to capture the raw emotions that come with human relationships. In this stanza, he taps into the frustration and confusion that many people feel when trying to navigate the often murky waters of love and sex.
Stanza Two
now I understand men they have to do it they have to go into the world and they know that the women are waiting and they know the law that sooner or later they'll be leaving while the women stay behind and cry and distract themselves with ideas of what they'll do tomorrow when nothing really can be done today.
In the second stanza, Bukowski shifts from the speaker's personal experience to a more general commentary on gender roles and societal expectations. He suggests that men have a biological imperative to seek out sexual partners and that women are often left behind to deal with the emotional fallout.
The line "they know the law" is particularly striking. Bukowski seems to be suggesting that there is an unwritten rule that men will eventually leave their partners behind, regardless of the emotional consequences.
The image of women distracting themselves with ideas of what they'll do tomorrow is a poignant one. It speaks to the sense of helplessness and resignation that can come with being left behind by someone you love.
Stanza Three
nothing is ever solved nothing is ever right no matter how painful no matter how mad you get life goes on and on and on too fucked up to change too firmly stuck in your ways to change you think about the many times you have committed suicide the many times you have died the many times you have told yourself that this was the end the only end and now you're alive and everything seems to just keep going on and on and on.
The third stanza is perhaps the most philosophical and existential of the entire poem. Bukowski acknowledges the pain and frustration that come with the human experience, but he also suggests that there is a certain inevitability to it all.
The repetition of "nothing" and "ever" gives the stanza a sense of futility and hopelessness. Bukowski seems to be suggesting that there are no easy answers or solutions to the problems that plague us.
The image of committing suicide and dying multiple times is a powerful one. It speaks to the sense of desperation and hopelessness that can come with feeling stuck in a cycle of pain and suffering.
The final lines of the stanza are perhaps the most haunting of the entire poem. Bukowski suggests that even in the face of all this pain and suffering, life just keeps going on and on. There is a sense of both resignation and defiance in this statement.
Stanza Four
and you want to stop it but you can't the days flow through you like water through a sieve and you feel like someone who stands under a warm shower brutalized by their own thoughts and unable to move.
The final stanza returns to the personal experience of the speaker. Bukowski once again taps into the sense of helplessness and resignation that come with feeling stuck in a cycle of pain and suffering.
The image of days flowing through the speaker like water through a sieve is a powerful one. It speaks to the transience and impermanence of life, as well as the inability to hold on to anything for very long.
The final image of the speaker standing under a warm shower and being brutalized by their own thoughts is a powerful one. It suggests that the speaker is trapped in their own mind, unable to escape the relentless torrent of negative thoughts and emotions.
Overall, "This" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that taps into the universal human experience of pain, suffering, and the search for meaning and connection. Bukowski's raw and unfiltered style gives the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy that is both compelling and unsettling.
In the end, "This" is a reminder that even in the face of all this pain and suffering, life goes on. It is up to us to find the strength and resilience to keep moving forward, even when everything seems hopeless.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
This by Charles Bukowski: A Poem of Self-Discovery and Acceptance
Charles Bukowski is a poet known for his raw and unfiltered writing style. His poems often explore the darker aspects of life, including alcoholism, poverty, and loneliness. In his poem "This," Bukowski takes a different approach, exploring the idea of self-discovery and acceptance.
The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on his past, stating "this is my past, my dead dog." The use of the word "dead" immediately sets a somber tone, suggesting that the speaker is reflecting on something painful. The reference to a "dead dog" also implies a sense of loss and mourning. The speaker then goes on to describe his present, stating "this is my present, this is my hand." The use of the word "hand" suggests that the speaker is in control of his present, that he is actively shaping his life.
The poem then takes a turn, with the speaker stating "this is my future, this is my dream." The use of the word "dream" suggests that the speaker is looking towards the future with hope and optimism. The speaker then goes on to describe his dream, stating "this is the mouth of my wife and this is the body of my girl." The use of the word "wife" suggests a sense of commitment and stability, while the reference to a "girl" implies a sense of youth and vitality.
The poem then takes another turn, with the speaker stating "this is my past, this is my present, this is my future." The repetition of these phrases suggests that the speaker is coming to terms with his life, that he is accepting his past, present, and future. The poem ends with the speaker stating "this is my life, this is my death." The use of the word "life" suggests that the speaker has come to a place of acceptance, that he is embracing his life for what it is. The reference to "death" implies a sense of finality, suggesting that the speaker is at peace with the idea of his own mortality.
Overall, "This" is a poem about self-discovery and acceptance. The speaker is reflecting on his past, present, and future, and coming to terms with his life. The use of repetition throughout the poem emphasizes the idea of acceptance, that the speaker is embracing all aspects of his life, both good and bad. The poem is also notable for its use of imagery, with the speaker describing his dream in vivid detail. This imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is not only accepting his life, but also actively shaping it.
In conclusion, "This" is a powerful poem that explores the idea of self-discovery and acceptance. Bukowski's raw and unfiltered writing style adds to the poem's emotional impact, making it a must-read for anyone interested in poetry that explores the darker aspects of life. The poem's message of acceptance is a universal one, reminding us that we must embrace all aspects of our lives, both good and bad, in order to truly live.
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