If you had a chance, would you take it?

[Faris]

Can someone help me name the story from which this quote is from (not sure if I have it exactly right). I recall it from a short story in which our author is handed a hospital questionnaire about his mental health.

 

[mjp]

That's a poem called "fingernails," that was (unfortunately) collected in Sifting Through the Madness for the Word, the Line, the Way.

It's worth a comparison.

 

[Faris]

You rock! Thanks. The wormwood version is a disgrace. It's similar to a computer generated translation of Camus.

 

[mjp]

The Wormwood version is what Bukowski wrote (see the manuscript to confirm that).

You may want to dip a toe into discovering how Bukowski's work was mutilated by John Martin.

Then again, you seem to prefer the John Martin version of "fingernails," and I really don't know where to point you for help with that...

 

[Faris]

Thanks for the clarification. I was obviously confused. Naturally I prefer what Bukowski wrote.