I'm a poet from England. I've had a lot of stuff published here and there. I'm also a big fan of Bukowski. A lot of my poems use the same structure - the short lines and abrupt breaks. I was wondering if anyone knows if there's any essays about Buk's poetic structure available.
Buk's poetic structure... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter wilkinsonld
- Start date
HenryChinaski
Founding member
I don't own it, but there is a publication of Bukowski Essays entitled: Against The American Dream. Find that book. it may help. it may not.
Petey
RIP
keep an eye on this book:
ART, SURVIVAL AND SO FORTH
THE POETRY OF CHARLES BUKOWSKI written by Jules Smith
A Wrecking Ball Press Publication, East Yorkshire, U.K.
ROC
It is what it is
Sorry to be contradictory, but neither of those books deals in any detail with Bukowskis' structural proclivities. They deal mainly with style and content.
The Harrison book uses various themes in Bukowskis' writing to support the premise that he was of a socialist political bent.
Smiths book is along the lines of social context, content and style but, again, I don't recall reading anything in it about structure per se.
Both books are at pains to point out the ever present humor in Buks work.
I find Harrison weakens his own assertions through overstatement and Smith glib and almost purely biographical (as opposed to critical).
Both worth reading though.
As far as I am aware, only Gay Brewers "Charles Bukowski' discusses matters such as line structure, syntax, perspectives, stance etc etc. - along with all the other stuff above.
Influences, social contexts and the development of the writers craft are also intelligently discussed
The Harrison book uses various themes in Bukowskis' writing to support the premise that he was of a socialist political bent.
Smiths book is along the lines of social context, content and style but, again, I don't recall reading anything in it about structure per se.
Both books are at pains to point out the ever present humor in Buks work.
I find Harrison weakens his own assertions through overstatement and Smith glib and almost purely biographical (as opposed to critical).
Both worth reading though.
As far as I am aware, only Gay Brewers "Charles Bukowski' discusses matters such as line structure, syntax, perspectives, stance etc etc. - along with all the other stuff above.
Influences, social contexts and the development of the writers craft are also intelligently discussed
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Petey
RIP
Hey ROC,
i reread some pages and so let me quote from ART,SURVIVAL AND SO FORTH
see page 101:
"generally the bull stands pure
and dies pure
untouched by symbols or cliques or false loves,...."
(from Burning in Water...)
And Jules Smith wrote:
"What Bukowski most importantly took from Hemingway was not subject matter, but structure."
And take a look on page 103:
"Bukowski's poem, probably written during his long lyrical month in New Orleans with the Webbs...has a similar structure, though with more linguistic complexity." Then another poem from Buk was mentioned.
By the way the book will be translated also in german language in the near future.
i reread some pages and so let me quote from ART,SURVIVAL AND SO FORTH
see page 101:
"generally the bull stands pure
and dies pure
untouched by symbols or cliques or false loves,...."
(from Burning in Water...)
And Jules Smith wrote:
"What Bukowski most importantly took from Hemingway was not subject matter, but structure."
And take a look on page 103:
"Bukowski's poem, probably written during his long lyrical month in New Orleans with the Webbs...has a similar structure, though with more linguistic complexity." Then another poem from Buk was mentioned.
By the way the book will be translated also in german language in the near future.
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Prometheus Lived In Los Angeles
He has wrestled away the art from the gods.
Brought back to Earth,
Everyone has a chance.
He has blazed the trail with beer, liquor, cigarettes, cheap Italian wine,
Broken hearts, despair, isolation, mockery, and
Humility.
Now everyone has the chance,
To write the line,
To find their style.
Now everyone has the chance
To start their own fire.
He has wrestled away the art from the gods.
Brought back to Earth,
Everyone has a chance.
He has blazed the trail with beer, liquor, cigarettes, cheap Italian wine,
Broken hearts, despair, isolation, mockery, and
Humility.
Now everyone has the chance,
To write the line,
To find their style.
Now everyone has the chance
To start their own fire.
D
deadhead
thanks for that.
ROC
It is what it is
Hiya Petey
Thanks for pointing those examples out - ok, he touches on the subject - but it really seems to me to be in passing and without due consideration, given the massive output of Buk.
It seems that volumes could be written about the 'American language' and Bukowskis role integrating it into poesy.
The Smith book is not bad, but more biography the ctitical analysis, yes?
I will re-read.
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Hi there, sorry to revive a thread long dead but I wondered if Gay Brewer's book is really that helpful when one little fuck like me wants to study in depth Bukowski's style and structure ? (don't worry I mainly try to do it myself, but another outlook can only help ;)) I'd like to be sure, because the book is quite expensive, so please let me know.
All right then.
Don't worry I've read (and re-read) him, but I need to have different outlooks and sources for my work, because as a student I am regarded as an useless lazy mind. And so if I only show my own study, my work will be seen as dashed off. I know it is silly but I can't do anything, so....
Don't worry I've read (and re-read) him, but I need to have different outlooks and sources for my work, because as a student I am regarded as an useless lazy mind. And so if I only show my own study, my work will be seen as dashed off. I know it is silly but I can't do anything, so....
