Some
writers and artists do their best works when intoxicated.
I
tried that route, and discovered passing out and sleeping it off
were
more appropriate for me.
Years
ago I knew a so called poet who came to open mic night
and
recited his work shit-faced drunk. Perhaps he always knew his
work
sucked, and he needed to muster enough courage to share
it
after he had saturated his brain with booze.
Now,
I have studied a considerable amount of Charles Bukowski’s
work.
And having learned much about his drinking habits in his
latter
years, I would say that alcohol was a can opener for his deep
seeded
anger and rage.
Although
he often glorified the downtrodden and depressing side
of
life, his experiences were painstakingly real. That’s what made
him
a popular and revered poet of his time. What I personally
learned
from his work was to express myself honestly, no holds
barred.
Bukowski
gave me license to write in a manner most genuinely be-
fitting
of me, to express my own voice unabashed and authentically.
Today,
I can write about my alcoholic years, but must do so in sobriety.
I
can see an artist who has a drink or two to get the creative juices
flowing.
My problem with booze is, one or two drinks was never enough.
I
went way past stop and often found my drunken anger always got the
best
of me.
In
his poem, so you want to be a writter, Bukowski
extols his platitudes
of
do s and don’t s...when it is truly time/and if you have been
chosen/
it
will do it by/itself and will keep on doing it/until you die or it
dies in/
you/there
is no other way/and there never was.
Hank,
posthumously for you and in sobriety for me, I can relate.
-30-
Chris
Hanch 5-6-2020
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