While You Dream In Ashes

Is it ironic
that Bukowski's gravestone
tells us "Don't Try"?

Just do
and in so doing give birth
to here and now

here and now, two incontrovertible facts
two illusions
such is life

don't try, do

so here goes

once upon a time
or
back in the good old days
or
in the beginning there was,
 or
it started with a mistake

the mistake was the effort
the straining of the eyes
to make the fuzzy real
resulting only in a tension headache

So do becomes a question
and do not becomes a choice

Bukowski says don't try
Bulgakov says burn all he's written
and Barrons, the momo?  The imposter?

         he says burn it all
            and try to dream
            while you sleep in ashes

The hook

He said, "It's been awfully hard lately"
I hear that, Brother
"But at least I've been writing again
you know, poetry.
It flows, man, it's working again
like it hasn't done in ages.
It's this need that grows,
it gurgles and groans like a bad hangover
until I'm bent over
with this poem, man
and so i write it."
I dig it, Brother.
"And you know the thing, the bother,
is that each time I try to fight it
stuff it back down inside
but it tears at me, man."
I feel it, man.
"So you wouldn't begrudge an old curmudgeon
a few moments to lend an ear?"
Naw, Brother, go on.
"It goes,
      The train ain't no place to live
      God above ain't seen fit to give
      me more than this
      so why try?
      Emptiness is Bliss
      And the meek fall only inches
      to the thirsty earth
      but the mad fall through seven daily hells

     the train ain't no plaice to live
     can you see fit to give a little, today?"


4/1/2012