some say we should keep personal remorse from the
poem,
stay abstract, and there is some reason in this,
but jezus;
twelve poems gone and I don’t keep carbons and you have
my
paintings too, my best ones; its stifling:
are you trying to crush me out like the rest of them?
why didn’t you take my money? they usually do
from the sleeping drunken pants sick in the corner.
next time take my left arm or a fifty
but not my poems:
I’m not Shakespeare
but sometime simply
there won’t be any more, abstract or otherwise;
there’ll always be mony and whores and drunkards
down to the last bomb,
but as God said,
crossing his legs,
I see where I have made plenty of poets
but not so very much
poetry.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Charles Bukowski's poem To The Whore Who Took My Poems

12 Comments

  1. drunkhard says:

    Well i think we can all tell from reading the comments what demographic this particular poem offends……
    people need to stop being so sensitive and look past the crude-ness of it to see what makes it great and i think the poet from fiji said it best as to why it is

  2. Alondra says:

    well i just started using this web site today and i think its wonderful.How you expressed yourself,thinking nobody would read it.Its just wonderful how you expressed your anger i felt very touched by your anger thanks! =)

  3. An unnamed poet says:

    I think those that confuse prettiness with substance might not get this one. It’s the same theme as “Blackbird”, really: the soft side of the hard-ass. Bukowski was a tough guy to whom nothing was sacred, but he gets so defensive of his poetry. I think the contradiction and confusion are what make it so meaningful.

  4. Stephanie says:

    I think that this is my top favorite poem out of 999.This would be my 1000th poem I have ever read!!!There are alot of whores,sluts,hoes,and drunkee’s.Well….bye bye!!!!!!!!

  5. purple platypuss says:

    i didnt infere anything that any of u said. im looking for a poem with metonymy if u could help. NOT out and out by robert frost though thanks.

  6. Susie says:

    i don’t kno about you, but i applaud the whore who took his poems.

  7. Daniel says:

    This guy is a true pimp he spoke his mind nothing more nothing less.

  8. Sunny Darkness says:

    Well, then…
    I think I’m getting more and more disappointed with each of Bukowski’s poems. He’s quite contradictory, and I regret to say that I find his poems lacking in substance. In the indomitable words of a famous pig, “That’s all, folks.”

  9. SAM says:

    very well written.

  10. yo momma says:

    omg thats the craziest thing i’ve ever read……WOW…i think i’m scared for life!

  11. Jean says:

    Very interesting. He shows his hatred for the person who stole his poems and paintings. A very eclectic poem. Bravo.

  12. Joseph says:

    This is one of the best poems I have read in a while. The he uses his words just makes you more caught up in the poem.

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