After I finished The Heart is a Lonely Hunter I was scouting around
on the net looking for information about Carson McCullers and I stumbled upon a
poem about her by one of my favourite writers – Charles Bukowski. Bukowski was
one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, in my humble opinion
anyway. This poem beautifully sums up McCullers, although how she died is
inaccurate, but why let that get in the way of great art? I’m pleased that
Bukowski rated McCullers – he didn’t suffer fools, but also I’m not surprised.
Anyway, enjoy the poem.
Carson McCullers
she
died of alcoholism
wrapped
in a blanket
on
a deck chair
on
an ocean
steamer.
all
her books of
terrified
loneliness
all
her books about
the
cruelty
of
loveless love
were
all that was left
of
her
as
the strolling vacationer
discovered
her body
notified
the captain
and
she was quickly dispatched
to
somewhere else
on
the ship
as
everything
continued
just
as
she
had written it
****
Charles
Bukowski
Heartbreaking! :(
ReplyDeleteCarson McCullers, love. Charles Bukowski, hate. Bukowski's poem about Carson McCullers, love. I'm so confused! But that is an excellent poem.
ReplyDeleteIt's a love hate relationship - very bukowskiesque, ironically....
ReplyDelete:)
Lovely, he never messes about!
ReplyDeleteHe certainly doesn't. I'm reading some Bukowski now, so I'll be writing about that soon.
Delete