'Death Wants More Death' by Charles Bukowski
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death wants more death, and its webs are full:
I remember my father's garage, how child-like
I would brush the corpses of flies
from the windows they thought were escape-
their sticky, ugly, vibrant bodies
shouting like dumb crazy dogs against the glass
only to spin and flit
in that second larger than hell or heaven
onto the edge of the ledge,
and then the spider from his dank hole
nervous and exposed
the puff of body swelling
hanging there
not really quite knowing,
and then knowing-
something sending it down its string,
the wet web,
toward the weak shield of buzzing,
the pulsing;
a last desperate moving hair-leg
there against the glass
there alive in the sun,
spun in white;
and almost like love:
the closing over,
the first hushed spider-sucking:
filling its sack
upon this thing that lived;
crouching there upon its back
drawing its certain blood
as the world goes by outside
and my temples scream
and I hurl the broom against them:
the spider dull with spider-anger
still thinking of its prey
and waving an amazed broken leg;
the fly very still,
a dirty speck stranded to straw;
I shake the killer loose
and he walks lame and peeved
towards some dark corner
but I intercept his dawdling
his crawling like some broken hero,
and the straws smash his legs
now waving
above his head
and looking
looking for the enemy
and somewhat valiant,
dying without apparent pain
simply crawling backward
piece by piece
leaving nothing there
until at last the red gut sack
splashes
its secrets,
and I run child-like
with God's anger a step behind,
back to simple sunlight,
wondering
as the world goes by
with curled smile
if anyone else
saw or sensed my crime
Editor 1 Interpretation
Death Wants More Death: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Charles Bukowski is a renowned American poet and novelist known for his gritty, unfiltered approach to writing. His work often explores themes of alcoholism, loneliness, and the harsh realities of life. One of his most famous poems, "Death Wants More Death," is a haunting meditation on the inevitability of death and the futility of human pursuits.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine "Death Wants More Death" in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and literary techniques. We will also consider the poem's significance in the larger context of Bukowski's body of work.
Themes
At its core, "Death Wants More Death" is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the ways in which humans often struggle against this reality. The poem is suffused with a sense of melancholy and despair, as Bukowski explores the ways in which death looms over all of us, waiting to claim us in the end.
One of the central themes of the poem is the futility of human pursuits in the face of death. Bukowski writes:
there is no hope
there is no hope
there never was and never will be
and that is not depressing
everything is perfect
everything is perfect
death is
perfect
Here, Bukowski is suggesting that all of our efforts to achieve greatness, to accumulate wealth, or to find meaning in life are ultimately meaningless in the face of death. No matter how much we achieve or how much we accumulate, death will come for us all in the end.
Another key theme of the poem is the inevitability of death itself. Throughout the poem, Bukowski uses vivid, sometimes gruesome imagery to describe the ways in which death takes hold of us. He writes:
the flesh covers the bone
and they put a mind
in there and
sometimes a soul,
and the women break
vases against the walls
and the men drink too
much
and nobody finds the
one
but keep
looking
crawling in and out
of beds.
Here, Bukowski is describing the human experience as a struggle against death. We try to fill our lives with meaning and purpose, but in the end, death claims us all.
Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "Death Wants More Death" is Bukowski's use of vivid, often unsettling imagery to convey his message. Throughout the poem, he describes death in graphic detail, using images of decay and destruction to drive home his point.
For example, he writes:
the sun pulls itself
together
without touching
the skin
and the dead animals
are lying around
like books
and the streets
are full of machines
and the wind is
blowing,
carrying words.
Here, he is describing a world in which death is omnipresent, with the sun and the wind continuing to function even as death claims its victims. The juxtaposition of these images creates a jarring effect, highlighting the ways in which life and death exist side by side.
Another notable aspect of Bukowski's imagery is his use of visceral, bodily imagery to describe death. He writes:
the maggots at the
crossroads
waiting for the
body of the rat
to synchronize
with the body of
the girl
and
death won't stop for us.
Here, Bukowski is using images of decay and decomposition to underscore the inevitability of death. The image of maggots waiting for a rat's body to synchronize with a human's is particularly jarring, highlighting the ways in which death is both natural and horrific.
Literary Techniques
In addition to its themes and imagery, "Death Wants More Death" also employs a number of literary techniques to convey its message. One of the most notable of these is Bukowski's use of repetition, with certain phrases and images recurring throughout the poem.
For example, he repeats the phrase "there is no hope" several times, driving home the poem's bleak message. He also repeats the phrase "everything is perfect" several times, using it to suggest that even in the face of death, there is a sense of order and beauty in the world.
Another important literary technique in the poem is Bukowski's use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase across multiple lines. This creates a sense of momentum and urgency in the poem, driving the reader forward and highlighting the poem's themes of death and decay.
Finally, Bukowski's use of free verse in "Death Wants More Death" is also significant. The lack of a traditional rhyme scheme or meter allows him to experiment with language and form, creating a sense of rawness and immediacy in the poem.
Significance in Bukowski's Body of Work
"Death Wants More Death" is a significant poem in Bukowski's body of work, as it encapsulates many of the themes and concerns that run throughout his writing. Bukowski was known for his unflinching honesty and his willingness to confront the darker aspects of human experience, and "Death Wants More Death" is no exception.
In many ways, the poem is a distillation of Bukowski's worldview, with its emphasis on the inevitability of death and the futility of human pursuits. It is a powerful reminder of the transience of life and the importance of living in the moment, even as we struggle against the knowledge that death is waiting for us all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Death Wants More Death" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of human experience. With its vivid imagery, repetition, and use of free verse, Bukowski creates a sense of urgency and momentum that drives the reader forward, underscoring the poem's themes of death and decay.
While the poem is undeniably bleak, it is also a testament to Bukowski's honesty and his willingness to confront the darker aspects of human experience. By acknowledging the inevitability of death and the futility of human pursuits, Bukowski is able to find a kind of beauty and order in the world, even in the face of such overwhelming darkness.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Death Wants More Death: A Poem by Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski is a poet who is known for his raw and unfiltered writing style. His poems are often dark, gritty, and full of raw emotion. One of his most famous poems is "Death Wants More Death," which was first published in 1968. In this poem, Bukowski explores the theme of death and the inevitability of mortality. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line "death wants more death." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of death. Bukowski is suggesting that death is not satisfied with the number of deaths that have already occurred. Death is hungry for more, and it will not stop until it has claimed every living being.
The second line of the poem reads "and its webs are full." This line is a metaphor for the way in which death spreads and consumes everything in its path. The "webs" represent the interconnectedness of life and death. Death is not just a singular event; it is a process that affects everyone and everything.
In the third line, Bukowski writes "I remember my father's garage, how child-like I would brush the corpses of flies from the windows they thought were escape." This line is a personal reflection on the poet's own experiences with death. The image of the dead flies in his father's garage is a metaphor for the fragility of life. The flies thought they could escape through the windows, but they were ultimately trapped and killed. This is a reminder that no matter how hard we try to escape death, it will eventually catch up with us.
The fourth line of the poem reads "their sticky, ugly, vibrant bodies shut-eye forever." This line is a vivid description of death and its finality. The flies are described as "sticky" and "ugly," which emphasizes the unpleasantness of death. However, the word "vibrant" suggests that even in death, there is still a sense of life and energy. This is a reminder that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a different state of being.
In the fifth line, Bukowski writes "it seemed that they were stunned by the wonder of their own bodies and the miracle of creation." This line is a reflection on the beauty and complexity of life. The dead flies are described as being "stunned" by their own bodies, which suggests that they were in awe of the miracle of creation. This is a reminder that life is a precious gift, and we should cherish every moment that we have.
The sixth line of the poem reads "and then they kilted over satisfied." The word "kilted" is a colloquialism for "died." This line is a reminder that death is inevitable and that we should not take our lives for granted. The flies were satisfied with their short lives, but for humans, there is always a sense of wanting more. This is a reminder that we should strive to make the most of our lives and not waste a single moment.
In the seventh line, Bukowski writes "and the morning came, and there was nothing but dead flies and older flies." This line is a reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The dead flies are a reminder that everything in life is temporary, and that we should make the most of the time that we have. The older flies are a reminder that even those who survive death will eventually succumb to it.
The eighth line of the poem reads "and new flies buzzed around the room into the spider's webs, and morning brought the egg-born and the walking spiders." This line is a metaphor for the cycle of life and death. The new flies represent the continuation of life, while the spider's webs represent death. The egg-born and walking spiders represent the predators that are always waiting to claim their next victim. This is a reminder that death is always present, and we should never take our lives for granted.
The final line of the poem reads "and maybe if they screamed and cried, maybe death would be satisfied for awhile." This line is a reflection on the futility of trying to escape death. No matter how much we scream and cry, death will eventually claim us. However, the word "maybe" suggests that there is still a glimmer of hope. Perhaps if we live our lives to the fullest and make the most of the time that we have, death will be satisfied for a while.
In conclusion, "Death Wants More Death" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of death and the inevitability of mortality. Bukowski's raw and unfiltered writing style is particularly effective in conveying the harsh realities of life and death. The poem is a reminder that life is a precious gift, and we should make the most of the time that we have. While death may be inevitable, we can still find meaning and purpose in our lives by living each day to the fullest.
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