'Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . .' by Charles Bukowski
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Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame. Black Sparrow Press.1965we have everything and we have nothing
and some men do it in churches
and some men do it by tearing butterflies
in half
and some men do it in Palm Springs
laying it into butterblondes
with Cadillac souls
Cadillacs and butterflies
nothing and everything,
the face melting down to the last puff
in a cellar in Corpus Christi.
there's something for the touts, the nuns,
the grocery clerks and you . . .
something at 8 a.m., something in the library
something in the river,
everything and nothing.
in the slaughterhouse it comes running along
the ceiling on a hook, and you swing it --
one
two
three
and then you've got it, $200 worth of dead
meat, its bones against your bones
something and nothing.
it's always early enough to die and
it's always too late,
and the drill of blood in the basin white
it tells you nothing at all
and the gravediggers playing poker over
5 a.m. coffee, waiting for the grass
to dismiss the frost . . .
they tell you nothing at all.we have everything and we have nothing --
days with glass edges and the impossible stink
of river moss -- worse than shit;
checkerboard days of moves and countermoves,
fagged interest, with as much sense in defeat as
in victory; slow days like mules
humping it slagged and sullen and sun-glazed
up a road where a madman sits waiting among
bluejays and wrens netted in and sucked a flakey
grey.
good days too of wine and shouting, fights
in alleys, fat legs of women striving around
your bowels buried in moans,
the signs in bullrings like diamonds hollering
Mother Capri, violets coming out of the ground
telling you to forget the dead armies and the loves
that robbed you.
days when children say funny and brilliant things
like savages trying to send you a message through
their bodies while their bodies are still
alive enough to transmit and feel and run up
and down without locks and paychecks and
ideals and possessions and beetle-like
opinions.
days when you can cry all day long in
a green room with the door locked, days
when you can laugh at the breadman
because his legs are too long, days
of looking at hedges . . .and nothing, and nothing, the days of
the bosses, yellow men
with bad breath and big feet, men
who look like frogs, hyenas, men who walk
as if melody had never been invented, men
who think it is intelligent to hire and fire and
profit, men with expensive wives they possess
like 60 acres of ground to be drilled
or shown-off or to be walled away from
the incompetent, men who'd kill you
because they're crazy and justify it because
it's the law, men who stand in front of
windows 30 feet wide and see nothing,
men with luxury yachts who can sail around
the world and yet never get out of their vest
pockets, men like snails, men like eels, men
like slugs, and not as good . . .
and nothing, getting your last paycheck
at a harbor, at a factory, at a hospital, at an
aircraft plant, at a penny arcade, at a
barbershop, at a job you didn't want
anyway.
income tax, sickness, servility, broken
arms, broken heads -- all the stuffing
come out like an old pillow.we have everything and we have nothing.
some do it well enough for a while and
then give way. fame gets them or disgust
or age or lack of proper diet or ink
across the eyes or children in college
or new cars or broken backs while skiing
in Switzerland or new politics or new wives
or just natural change and decay --
the man you knew yesterday hooking
for ten rounds or drinking for three days and
three nights by the Sawtooth mountains now
just something under a sheet or a cross
or a stone or under an easy delusion,
or packing a bible or a golf bag or a
briefcase: how they go, how they go! -- all
the ones you thought would never go.days like this. like your day today.
maybe the rain on the window trying to
get through to you. what do you see today?
what is it? where are you? the best
days are sometimes the first, sometimes
the middle and even sometimes the last.
the vacant lots are not bad, churches in
Europe on postcards are not bad. people in
wax museums frozen into their best sterility
are not bad, horrible but not bad. the
cannon, think of the cannon, and toast for
breakfast the coffee hot enough you
know your tongue is still there, three
geraniums outside a window, trying to be
red and trying to be pink and trying to be
geraniums, no wonder sometimes the women
cry, no wonder the mules don't want
to go up the hill. are you in a hotel room
in Detroit looking for a cigarette? one more
good day. a little bit of it. and as
the nurses come out of the building after
their shift, having had enough, eight nurses
with different names and different places
to go -- walking across the lawn, some of them
want cocoa and a paper, some of them want a
hot bath, some of them want a man, some
of them are hardly thinking at all. enough
and not enough. arcs and pilgrims, oranges
gutters, ferns, antibodies, boxes of
tissue paper.in the most decent sometimes sun
there is the softsmoke feeling from urns
and the canned sound of old battleplanes
and if you go inside and run your finger
along the window ledge you'll find
dirt, maybe even earth.
and if you look out the window
there will be the day, and as you
get older you'll keep looking
keep looking
sucking your tongue in a little
ah ahno nomaybesome do it naturally
some obscenely
everywhere.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Charles Bukowski, the famous poet, novelist, and short-story writer, wrote a lot of works throughout his career. One of his notable works is "Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . .", a poem that has been analyzed and interpreted by many critics over the years. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in this poem by Bukowski.
Literary Analysis
Background
Before delving into the analysis of the poem, it's important to understand the background and context behind its creation. Bukowski is known for his gritty, raw, and often controversial writing style, which is reflective of his own experiences growing up and living in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. He often wrote about the underbelly of society, focusing on the lives of people who are often ignored or forgotten.
"Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . ." was published in Bukowski's 1972 collection, "Love Is a Dog From Hell." The poem was written during a time when Bukowski was struggling with alcoholism and depression, and it reflects the bleakness and disillusionment that he felt during this period.
Themes
The main themes of the poem are loneliness, isolation, and the human condition. Bukowski uses vivid imagery and language to paint a picture of a world that is devoid of meaning and purpose. The poem is a commentary on the existential crisis faced by individuals in a modern, industrialized society.
The poem also touches on the theme of class struggle. Bukowski writes about the "touts, nuns, and grocery clerks," individuals who are often seen as being on the fringes of society. These people are struggling to survive in a world that values material wealth above all else. Bukowski uses their struggles to highlight the inequalities and injustices that exist in society.
Symbols
Bukowski uses a number of symbols in the poem to convey his message. One of the most prominent symbols is the "neon loneliness" that he writes about. The neon lights represent the artificiality and emptiness of modern life. The loneliness that Bukowski describes is not just a physical loneliness, but also an existential loneliness.
The title of the poem is also a symbol. The phrase "something for" suggests that there is a gift or reward for each of the groups mentioned in the title. However, the poem ends without any real resolution or reward. This symbolizes the futility of searching for meaning or purpose in a world that is inherently meaningless.
Literary Devices
Bukowski uses a number of literary devices in the poem to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. One of the most notable literary devices is repetition. Bukowski repeats the phrase "there is" multiple times throughout the poem, creating a sense of monotony and hopelessness.
Another literary device that Bukowski uses is metaphor. He compares the world to a "dull knife" and a "torn calendar," emphasizing the sense of decay and degradation that he sees in the modern world.
Bukowski also uses irony in the poem. For example, he writes about how "everyone tries to sell you something." This is ironic because the poem itself is a product that Bukowski is trying to sell.
Interpretation
The poem "Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . ." is a bleak and despairing commentary on the human condition. Bukowski paints a picture of a world that is devoid of meaning and purpose, and he uses vivid imagery and language to emphasize the sense of loneliness and isolation that many people feel in modern society.
The title of the poem is a symbol of the futility of searching for meaning or purpose in a world that is inherently meaningless. Bukowski's use of repetition, metaphor, and irony creates a sense of atmosphere and mood that is both haunting and powerful.
Ultimately, the poem is a reflection of Bukowski's own struggles with alcoholism and depression. It is a cry of despair from a man who feels lost and alone in a world that values material wealth over human connection.
Conclusion
"Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . ." is a powerful and haunting poem that highlights the loneliness and isolation that many people feel in modern society. Bukowski uses vivid imagery and language to create a sense of atmosphere and mood that is both bleak and despairing. The poem is a reflection of Bukowski's own struggles with alcoholism and depression, and it is a cry of despair from a man who feels lost and alone in a world that values material wealth over human connection.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Charles Bukowski is a name that is synonymous with gritty, raw, and unapologetic poetry. His work is often characterized by its dark humor, vivid imagery, and unflinching honesty. One of his most famous poems, "Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . ." is a perfect example of his unique style.
The poem begins with the line "there's a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the struggle between the desire to live fully and the fear of being hurt. The bluebird is a symbol of hope and freedom, but it is trapped inside the speaker's heart, unable to fly free.
The poem then goes on to describe a series of characters who are all struggling in their own ways. The touts, or ticket scalpers, are trying to make a living in a world that is often unfair and unforgiving. The nuns are trying to find meaning in a world that often seems meaningless. The grocery clerks are trying to make ends meet in a world that is increasingly dominated by big corporations.
But the poem is not just about these characters. It is also about the speaker himself, who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is torn between his desire to live fully and his fear of being hurt. He wants to be like the bluebird, free and unencumbered, but he is held back by his own doubts and insecurities.
Throughout the poem, Bukowski uses vivid imagery to bring his characters to life. He describes the touts as "hustlers" who "work the crowd" and the nuns as "holy sisters" who "pray for all the sinners in the world." The grocery clerks are described as "tired" and "worn out," but still "smiling bravely."
Bukowski also uses repetition to drive home his message. The phrase "there's a bluebird in my heart" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's desire for freedom. The phrase "I'm just like you" is also repeated, highlighting the fact that we are all struggling in our own ways.
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of the poem is its honesty. Bukowski does not shy away from the darker aspects of life. He acknowledges the pain and suffering that we all experience, but he also celebrates the moments of joy and beauty that make life worth living.
In the end, "Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You . . ." is a powerful meditation on the human condition. It reminds us that we are all struggling in our own ways, but that we can find hope and meaning in the midst of our struggles. It is a testament to Bukowski's unique voice and his ability to capture the rawness and beauty of life in his poetry.
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