Air and Light and Time and Space

Submitted by Seth on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 23:11
in

I used to have this Bukowksi poem up on the wall by my desk. Lately I've been thinking about it as I push myself back into the JP2 revisions. I'm not sure how I feel about the poem anymore, but it's always stuck with me. Either because it's bullshit bravado or because I believe in it. What do you think?

air and light and time and space
 
"–you know, I’ve either had a family, a job,
something has always been in the
way
but now
I’ve sold my house, I’ve found this
place, a large studio, you should see the space and
the light.
for the first time in my life I’m going to have
a place and the time to
create."
 
no baby, if you’re going to create
you’re going to create whether you work
16 hours a day in a coal mine
or
you’re going to create in a small room with 3 children
while you’re on
welfare,
you’re going to create with part of your mind and your body blown
away,
you’re going to create blind
crippled
demented,
you’re going to create with a cat crawling up your
back while
the whole city trembles in earthquake, bombardment,
flood and fire.
 
baby, air and light and time and space
have nothing to do with it
and don’t create anything
except maybe a longer life to find
new excuses
for.
 
© Charles Bukowski, Black Sparrow Press
 

Comments

Poem

Submitted by Debs1 on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 23:33.
I think there is truth here beneath the bravado. When inspiration comes, nothing can stop the artist from creating (writing, music, painting, etc.) but as Stephen King says in On Writing -- you have to put the work in (the craft element). So, while inspiration can come to anyone at anytime and compel them to create -- the real writer is the craftsman that carves out time, despite the 1,000 other demands on them-- even when the inspiration has left them-- and makes sure they revise, and revise, and revise, and revise... until the final product is something they can be proud of -- and they believe can stand on its own. (Most of this perspective comes from you, BTW. I just listen in class;) ).

Ouch.

Submitted by Seth on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 23:49.

I should shut up then. Easier said than done. That, or I just need to put my ass in the chair and get my money maker where my mouth is!

Seriously, when the "brilliance" or whatever you want to call it, strikes, if you're not in the chair, what's the good. Got to work.

Revision is another battle entirely for me. I'm happy with the draft-writing, cranking out the pages. Revision is a bit of a slog. But that's just where I am now. Hopefully as I get into it, it'll pick up.

Inspiration

Submitted by Debs1 on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 08:27.
So, most of my story ideas come when I'm sleeping (dreams) or driving. For the first, I write them down while the details are fresh (and usually get to work late), for the second I've taken to using the record notes feature on my phone and/or my ipod. I'll talk out the words dancing around in my head (they always sounds better in my head -- trust me) and go back to scribe them later. The harder part is making the time... so, I have not turned a TV on in more than two months, because each time I sit down to write (be it for class or novel), I get sucked in and four-five hours have gone by. Then I have to make sure I get enough sleep that I can survive the work day. Seth, your work is awesome. You have four strong novels and two short story collections under your belt. That's no small feat. Don't let a grumpy old bastard like Bukowksi get you down. He's the biggest curmudgeon going --or went, as the case may be ;).

Bukowski redux

Submitted by Seth on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 13:45.

While we're on the subject of Bukowski...

well, I'll just post this audio of him reading. See above post and this to listen.