“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” Charles Bukowski
I first came across Charles Bukowski, the legendary author and poet, about a decade or so ago. I have since then read four of his books, each time, I increasingly like his style of unapologetically “telling life as it is”. It was with this in mind that I have tried to blend prose, poetry and pictures into my self-same titled series 7 Days In A Week. I don’t hold back from letting my thoughts, dreams, fears and insecurities run wild as I type. I happily, willingly broach taboo subjects whether sexual deviancy, drug taking, religion, or contemplating death. As much as I want the reader to be entertained, I also want them, you to consider some of your preconceptions or at least consider how people have a very different life experience. I admit this series is not one my elderly parents particularly like, then again, they are not exactly my target market; I will take their displeasure as a badge of honour. And in truth, think, perhaps these are the books I was meant to write, penning as I do with my full cohort of meraki.
Coming back to Mr. Bukowski… I just read this poem and which I think it sums up the man and his mind; it also gave me the genesis for this blog!
“Style is the answer to everything. A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous thing To do a dull thing with style is preferable to doing a dangerous thing without it To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art Bullfighting can be an art Boxing can be an art Loving can be an art Opening a can of sardines can be an art Not many have style Not many can keep style I have seen dogs with more style than men, although not many dogs have style. Cats have it with abundance. When Hemingway put his brains to the wall with a shotgun, that was style. Or sometimes people give you style Joan of Arc had style John the Baptist Jesus Socrates Caesar García Lorca. I have met men in jail with style. I have met more men in jail with style than men out of jail. Style is the difference, a way of doing, a way of being done. Six herons standing quietly in a pool of water, or you, naked, walking out of the bathroom without seeing me.”