A fine man, a fine poem
I haven't posted a Bukowski poem for a long time and it's time for a dosage. This is widely considered to be Bukowski's masterpiece. It's pretty angry stuff and it's not for everyone, but hang in there. Take your medicine. It's good for you. It was written in 1966 and I think it speaks volumes about the state of contemporary American culture and politics.
The Genius of the Crowd
There is enough treachery, hatred,
violence,
Absurdity in the average human
being
To supply any given army on any given
day
AND The Best At Murder Are Those
Who Preach LOVE
AND THE BEST AT WAR
—FINALLY—ARE THOSE WHO
PREACH
PEACE
Those Who Preach GOD
NEED God
Those Who Preach PEACE
Do Not Have PEACE
THOSE WHO PREACH LOVE
DO NOT HAVE LOVE
BEWARE THE PREACHERS
Beware The Knowers
Beware
Those Who
Are ALWAYS
READING
BOOKS
Beware Those Who Either Detest
Poverty Or Are Proud Of It
BEWARE Those Quick to Praise
For they Need PRAISE In Return
BEWARE Those Quick To Censure
They Are Afraid Of What They Do
Not Know
Beware Those Who Seek Constant
Crowds; They are Nothing
Alone
Beware
The Average Man
The Average Woman
BEWARE Their Love
Thier Love Is Average, Seeks
Average
But There Is Genius In Their Hatred
There Is Enough Genius In Their
Hatred To Kill You, To Kill
Anybody.
Not Wanting Solitude
Not Understanding Solitude
The Will Attempt To Destroy
Anything
That Differs
From Their Own
Not Being Able
To Create Art
They Will Not
Understand Art
They Will Consider Their Failure
As Creators
Only As A Failure
Of The World
Not Being Able To Love Fully
They Will BELIEVE Your Love
Incomplete
AND THEN THEY WILL HATE
YOU
And Their Hatred Will Be Perfect
Like A Shining Diamond
Like A Knife
LIke A Mountain
LIKE A TIGER
LIKE Hemlock
Their Finest
Art
The Genius of the Crowd
There is enough treachery, hatred,
violence,
Absurdity in the average human
being
To supply any given army on any given
day
AND The Best At Murder Are Those
Who Preach LOVE
AND THE BEST AT WAR
—FINALLY—ARE THOSE WHO
PREACH
PEACE
Those Who Preach GOD
NEED God
Those Who Preach PEACE
Do Not Have PEACE
THOSE WHO PREACH LOVE
DO NOT HAVE LOVE
BEWARE THE PREACHERS
Beware The Knowers
Beware
Those Who
Are ALWAYS
READING
BOOKS
Beware Those Who Either Detest
Poverty Or Are Proud Of It
BEWARE Those Quick to Praise
For they Need PRAISE In Return
BEWARE Those Quick To Censure
They Are Afraid Of What They Do
Not Know
Beware Those Who Seek Constant
Crowds; They are Nothing
Alone
Beware
The Average Man
The Average Woman
BEWARE Their Love
Thier Love Is Average, Seeks
Average
But There Is Genius In Their Hatred
There Is Enough Genius In Their
Hatred To Kill You, To Kill
Anybody.
Not Wanting Solitude
Not Understanding Solitude
The Will Attempt To Destroy
Anything
That Differs
From Their Own
Not Being Able
To Create Art
They Will Not
Understand Art
They Will Consider Their Failure
As Creators
Only As A Failure
Of The World
Not Being Able To Love Fully
They Will BELIEVE Your Love
Incomplete
AND THEN THEY WILL HATE
YOU
And Their Hatred Will Be Perfect
Like A Shining Diamond
Like A Knife
LIke A Mountain
LIKE A TIGER
LIKE Hemlock
Their Finest
Art
posted by The Unbearable Banishment at
5:08 AM
10 Comments:
A modern-day Desiderata, perhaps?
I LOVE HIM. This is electrifyingly, cracklingly perfect. Thanks so much for reminding me of it.
I don't know, at first it seems an astute reflection of modern society, but then it just seems like cynicism. What do you think?
PG: Actually, I don't know who that is. But I will...
Leah: I'm a big fan of his, too. Actually, in my spar time I'm a small-time rare book dealer/collector and I have one of the most prominent collections of Bukowski rarities on the East Coat. [Look, I don't have a lot to brag on, so when I get the chance...]
Point: It's funny you should mention that. I read this last night and this was the first time I thought the poem dripped with a bit too much cynicism. But you have to allow that he had a pretty terrible life and that his misfortunes were reflected in his writings.
The Desiderata is what I now consider a fairly corny text offering "life advice". I liked it when I was about 18. The bit about steering clear of aggravatingly noisy persons (rough approximation) has stayed with me though.
Not poetry, not comparable to Bukowski.
Uh...
Blessed is the cynic,
For he shall see through all the bullshit
And know the truth,
Ugly tho it may be
I've always liked that poem. I also think that it is quite apt for today, national holocaust day that is.
well, thanks for that cheery little nugget! appropriate as our prez prepares to deliver the state of our sorry union address...
hey, kids! anyone else up for a group swan dive off the highest building! race you to the top!
And Their Hatred Will Be Perfect
Like A Shining Diamond
Like A Knife
LIke A Mountain
LIKE A TIGER
LIKE Hemlock
Their Finest
Art
Those are the lines I like the best
Lori: I can't figure out if the "genius" is the writer seeing through the bullshit or if the "genius" is the crowds perfect hatred.
St. Jude: I didn't put that together but you're right. Thanks for pointing that out.
Daisy: Hey, baby, I tried to warn you in the introduction.
Nurse: Most of the power of Bukowski's work lie in the last few lines of his poems.
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