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Buk

Missing image



charles bukowski
poetry's bum
one-off genius?
or lowlife scum?

said it plainly
spread no butter
on the beauty
of his gutter

punctuation
he ignored it
affectation
he abhorred it

cut to the chase
he made me see
the simple power
of honesty

pulled no punches
backed outsiders
never wanted
his poems to rhyme


.

Author notes

This was written to a strict format of 4line verses, 4 syllables each line, rhyming, for a competition on the theme of your favourite famous poet. I know Buk would have hated the form. But he'd have liked the 'cheat'. Apologies (and sincere thanks) to Dave Ochs who turned me on to 'Buk'.

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Comments

  • Brian Balzer gold member
    September 11

    Edit | Reply

    Diciplined I guess

    I've never studied form. I know nothing of famous poets. Who am I to give an opinion on such works as these? Yet I'm told to crituqe as I please? I like the very beginning.It's so true of many things in life especially the art world. Is it a great work of art or just something someone made? It all depends on what the person taking it in thinks. My guess is that your term the cheat refers to the use of gutter to rhyme with butter. I know from what you've said that 'Buk' would have seriosly disliked my poetry...it rhymes alot. Oh well.


    • Windhover silver member
      September 12
      Edit | Reply

      The dress theory of poetic form

      Hey Brian. The 'cheat' was 'crashing' the rhyme scheme in the last line, breaking the rules of the contest, but making a poetic point about the subject. I know, arty farty or what!
      I'm not a lover of rhyme or strict forms on poetry but one way to look at it is like this. A good poem is like a beautiful woman - she's beautiful regardless. But putting it into a strict format of say, rhyming meter, is like putting the woman in a beautiful, slightly tight-fitting dress. It adds tension and beauty. No point making a beautiful dress with no woman to wear it. And a beautiful dress doesn't make an ugly woman beautiful. Wow! Metaphor Central! Just some food for thought and discussion. >W<

  • dave ochs silver member
    August 28

    Edit | Reply

    hey john

    very nice tribute, I'm glad you get him. it takes talent to recognize talent and he's the real deal. altought he may not have liked the form, its well done.
    dave

    . Rewarded 4


  • dirty clean poet
    August 28

    Edit | Reply
    even if Buk would have hated the form, i think it works very well here. the four syllables in each line make it sound understated, and simplistic for it. it reads as basic at first, but it takes great skill and complexity to do so.

    the rhyme scheme keeps it together but doesn't intrude; it still reads conversationally.

    as a tribute this is fantastic, and i'll definately check Buk out


    dcp
    xx

    . Rewarded 8