Wise words from Charles Bukowski

I’m not sure when this poem was written – given that Bukowski died in spring 1994, it’s at least 22 years old but most likely older.

Certainly lost none of its relevance or poignancy.

Putrefaction
Of late
I’ve had this thought
that this country
has gone backwards
4 or 5 decades
and that all the
social advancement
the good feeling of
person toward
person
has been washed
away
and replaced by the same
old
bigotries

we have
more than ever
the selfish wants of power
the disregard for the
weak
the old
the impoverished
the helpless

we are replacing want with
war
salvation
slavery.
we have wasted
the gains

we have become
rapidly
less.

we have our Bomb
it is our fear
our damnation
and our
shame

now
something so sad
has hold of us
that
the breath
leaves
and we can’t even
cry