I've never been lonely. I've been in a room -- I've felt suicidal. I've been depressed.

I've felt awful -awful beyond all -- but I never felt that one other person could enter that room and cure what was
bothering me...or that any number of people could enter that room. In other words, loneliness is
something I've never been bothered with because I've always had this terrible itch for solitude. It's
being at a party, or at a stadium full of people cheering for something, that I might feel loneliness. I'll
quote Ibsen, "The strongest men are the most alone." I've never thought, "Well, some beautiful
blonde will come in here and give me a fuck-job, rub my balls, and I'll feel good." No, that won't help.
You know the typical crowd, "Wow, it's Friday night, what are you going to do? Just sit there?" Well,
yeah. Because there's nothing out there. It's stupidity. Stupid people mingling with stupid people. Let
them stupidify themselves. I've never been bothered with the need to rush out into the night. I hid in
bars, because I didn't want to hide in factories. That's all. Sorry for all the millions, but I've never
been lonely. I like myself. I'm the best form of entertainment I have. Let's drink more wine!
Charles Bukowski
My ambition is handicapped by laziness
Charles Bukowski, Factotum
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If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could
mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery-isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really
want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than
anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like
that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to
perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.
there is a loneliness in this world so great
that you can see it in the slow movement of
the hands of a clock.
people so tired
mutilated
either by love or no love.
people just are not good to each other
one on one.
the rich are not good to the rich
the poor are not good to the poor.
we are afraid.
our educational system tells us
that we can all be
big-ass winners.

it hasn't told us
about the gutters
or the suicides.
or the terror of one person
aching in one place
alone
untouched
unspoken to
watering a plant.
Charles Bukowski, Love is a Dog from Hell
those who escape hell
however
never talk about
it
and nothing much
bothers them
after
that.
Charles Bukowski
There's a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going to let anybody see you.
Charles Bukowski
I will remember the kisses
our lips raw with love
and how you gave me
everything you had
and how I
offered you what was left of
me,
and I will remember your small room
the feel of you
the light in the window
your records
your books
our morning coffee
our noons our nights
our bodies spilled together
sleeping
the tiny flowing currents
immediate and forever
your leg my leg

your arm my arm

your smile and the warmth
of you
who made me laugh
again.
Charles Bukowski
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Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.

Charles Bukowski

Pain is strange. A cat killing a bird, a car accident, a fire.... Pain arrives, BANG, and there it is, it sits
on you. It's real. And to anybody watching, you look foolish. Like you've suddenly become an idiot.
There's no cure for it unless you know somebody who understands how you feel, and knows how to
help.
Charles Bukowski
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there is a place in the heart that

will never be filled
a space
and even during the
best moments
and
the greatest times
times
we will know it
we will know it
more than
ever
there is a place in the heart that
will never be filled
and
we will wait
and
wait
in that space.
Charles Bukowski
The shortest distance between two points is often unbearable.
Charles Bukowski

great writers are indecent people

they live unfairly
saving the best part for paper.
good human beings save the world
so that bastards like me can keep creating art,
become immortal.
if you read this after I am dead
it means I made it.
Charles Bukowski, The People Look Like Flowers at Last
dogs and angels are not
very far apart
Charles Bukowski, The People Look Like Flowers at Last
I drive around the streets
an inch away from weeping,
ashamed of my sentimentality and
possible love.
Charles Bukowski, Love is a Dog from Hell
It wasnt my day. My week. My month. My year. My life. God damn it.
Charles Bukowski, Pulp
writers are desperate people and when they stop being desperate they stop being writers.
Charles Bukowski
He asked, "What makes a man a writer?" "Well," I said, "it's simple. You either get it down on paper,
or jump off a bridge.
Charles Bukowski
I will remember your small room, the feel of you, the light in the window, your records, your books,
our morning coffee, our noons, our nights, our bodies spilled together, sleeping, the tiny flowing
currents, immediate and forever. Your leg, my leg, your arm, my arm, your smile and the warmth of
you who made me laugh again.
Charles Bukowski
Ive had so many knives stuck into me, when they hand me a flower I cant quite make out what it is.
It takes time.
Charles Bukowski
Eyes. Those damn eyes fucked me forever.
Charles BukowskiIn the morning it was morning and I was still alive.
Maybe I'll write a novel, I thought.
And then I did.
Charles Bukowski, Post Office

one more creature

dizzy with love
Charles Bukowski, Love is a Dog from Hell
The wisdom to quit is all we have left.
Charles Bukowski, The People Look Like Flowers at Last
Humanity, you never had it from the beginning." That was my motto.
Charles Bukowski, Women
You gotta find what you like and let it kill you.
Charles Bukowski
The Artist," an ancient sage had once said, "is always sitting on the doorsteps of the rich.
Charles Bukowski, The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses Over the Hills