don’t feel sorry for me.
I am a competent,
satisfied human being.

be sorry for the others
who
fidget
complain

who
constantly
rearrange their
lives
like
furniture.

juggling mates
and
attitudes

their
confusion is
constant

and it will
touch
whoever they
deal with.

beware of them:
one of their
key words is
“love.”

and beware those who
only take
instructions from their
God

for they have
failed completely to live their own
lives.

don’t feel sorry for me
because I am alone

for even
at the most terrible
moments
humor
is my
companion.

I am a dog walking
backwards

I am a broken
banjo

I am a telephone wire
strung up in
Toledo, Ohio

I am a man
eating a meal
this night
in the month of
September.

put your sympathy
aside.
they say
water held up
Christ:
to come
through
you better be
nearly as
lucky.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Charles Bukowski's poem For The Foxes

4 Comments

  1. Ross says:

    “and beware those who
    only take
    instructions from their
    God

    for they have
    failed completely to live their own
    lives.”

    Good advice to all you Christers and Muslims.

  2. ea says:

    I’m sorry I just saw the comments below because I had been weeping with this profound poem and all in love with Charles again and ready to say, “It’s your lucky day, Charles!” but now I’m preoccupied with how I would never want to have to read these comments on this poem ever again and I’m sure that Charles would spit.

  3. jessica toth says:

    this guy frank who posted the comment before mine is the exact kind of person bukowski is talking about in his poem. he is the kind that you should feel sorry for/about.

  4. frank gibbard says:

    I have written about fox hunting and looked for such on the internet. This was nothing to do with foxes. Why titled thus though? Waste of my time in this regard but liked the sentiments of Mr Bukowski’s work.A rare disregard of religion in the USA speaking as a non-believer myself but big on humour hear hear to his regard for laughter, great comforter in life. My fave sitcom: Seinfeld and most Jewish writing Neil Simon and Woody Allen.Hello USA-FRANK E GIBBARD

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