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Heather l Heather l
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Suggestion/help on Bukowski poem response.?

I need to analyze this poem and say how it inspires me, and how it relates to me. I was thinking of doing something like, telling how we should beware these people( that the poem talks about) and then at the end have a sort of epiphany that I am one of these people who is needed to be feared. Suggestions?
oh! and what I'm writing is going to be a poem.

The Genius Of The Crowd
Charles Bukowski


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 against it
and the best at hate 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 peace 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 who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their 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
they 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
  • 2 months ago
Buk by Buk
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Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

This is Bukowski in survival mode, protecting himself from the world without adding to the tragedy of life. His art was cutting through the sales pitch and taking what he wanted from life without being swayed by anyone or anything, other than liquor.
A "leave me alone but listen to me" kind of hypocrisy that he in no way apologizes for.

Now, is that you?
  • 2 months ago
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