Charles Bukowski, in the end, sorting letters

In The End, Sorting Letters
For Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994


In the end
When Charles Bukowski got
Leukemia, he puffed out his last
With a daughter and wife
Near, puffing out

Just serene, says his ex
About his face, transparent

No smell of clutch
Burning out, just the puffing
Words have a hard time enshrining
Such a thing that’s regal
As dying

As art lived foolish and fun-fucked
Forget about me.  Grab a hand

No weaping
He’d say, sorting letters
Grab a hand, a close hand, breathe
Squeeze it, scarred as you are
Yours in theirs

One reason for valor
At the races or match

Is everything
Fits here, he says
Your full blown ass cupped
By my blistered hands
But that’s the calm

Way of letting go
Of drink, lies, life: Austere life


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