Poem by Charles Bukowski -- SOMETHING FOR THE TOUTS, THE NUNS, THE GROCERY CLERKS AND YOU

[GrainSandful]

Charles Bukowski reincarnated, I told you!! I love it!! <3

You're perfect for the role, and even better narrated than anyone else ever done before!!! :)

[vudu8ball]

Great job!

[MrChefMac]

What I wouldn't give to hear you do "Starve, Go Mad or Kill Yourself".

[redRobynz]

I love it. For me, it's all (well, the poem is incredible, andbutso) the eyes. Really incredible. Thank you

[BUKCOLLECTOR]

excellent recitation. One of my favorite Buk poems. I had a lengthy correspondence with Bukowski (30 letters from the early 1980s). He was quite a character--and wd often intersperse a poem in the middle of a letter. I also (at one time) had the world's largest Bukowski rare book and letter collection--but due to financial woes--I sold my collection for $15,000 in 1984 (today's replacement value: $350,000..OUCH!)

bukcollector

[blairtoo]

great read of a great poem, man.

[realhiphop3000]

All from the head or are you pulling an Obama here?;) You are really great man!

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@realhiphop3000 It's all from the head.. memorized... I can't afford a telepromter! :P

Actually, every poem/story I've done is always memorized.. it really helps delivery and re-writing because you have to hear and repeat something quite a few times to get it down... and in that process you start to hear it differently.... thanx for the comment!

[MsWriteNow]

Awesome recitation! Your memory is incredible - care to tutor?

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@MsWriteNow Well, I charge for by the hour for that. However, I do have a special overnight rate! :P

[marialiveshere]

nicely done. i enjoyed this video

[Stindels]

Nicely done....enjoyed your rendition of this once unknown poem..... ( to me that is ) will re-listen again now that my internet is up and running.......Thanks for sending

[AcidEntertainment]

What a great poem! Well read by you (of course!). =) Hope you have a nice weekend.

[lonelygirll15]

Intense

[TheSassytiger]

thumbs up all the way...interesting and well spoken

[dave1965o]

hello really enjoyed thanks for sharing

[KrinkleCartoonShow]

@iamterrentia Bukowski is in my top 4 poets. They are Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Lydia Lunch and him. And on youtube I've been able to do my favorite poem by each of these poets on video here on YT: Sexton: Music Swims Back To Me; Plath: Mad Girl's Love Song; Lunch: Rude Heiroglyphics -- but of the four I'd have to say this is my favortie. Thanks for the comment.

[dashpoet]

You make the words your own. Impressive on many levels, worth giving time to.

[tomken8dy]

We waste the short precious gift of life going after what we want

when we all can have what we need.

We're just too stupid, then we die.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@scorpiocraft You know, I had forgotten that too... reciting used to be commonplace... when I just started this channel I decided to memorize everything because no one else seemed to be doing it (except for rappers)... thought I was being original but you are spot on in your observation. I guess like the song says, "Everything Old is New Again" :P -- thanks for the comment....

[Sherifrocks1]

Well done David great poem my Friend

>>>Sherif

[Poemsapennyeach]

Well delivered....

[EllyMcCormack]

I envy your memory! D:

[Hellishcrusade]

I recognise this! - from 'Poems and Insults' - around 1973... I think?

Good recital David ...I actually think you've memorised this!

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@Hellishcrusade Thanks man... it's also in the collection BURNING IN WATER, DROWNING IN FLAME... yeah, every video on here is memorized...  won't do a video or a live reading of a poem if it is not memorzied... a lot of my poet friends think it's nuts... the only things not memorized are the blogs or a couple off the wall random videos skype sessions and things like that...

[leftysergeant]

The impression I always have of Bukowsk is of a man struggling to make sense of a world that he probably realizes makes no sense, for the most part, and may be pointless in the end, but he is on for the ride anyway. Your delivery conveys pretty much that same feeling. Well done.

[janeczka]

Perfect!! Although yes, you are crazy. You look it. The voices in my head tell me you are crazy. I think I believe them :p

[tndowns1122]

This is really great. Thanks for sharing.

[nordicsky]

I've listened to you read this poem at least a dozen times and each time I get new insights. Each time I think one particular line stands out above the rest, only to have it replaced by another. Some say that Bukowski was just a drunken bum but I think he was a world weary cynical genius. His poetry reflects life as he saw it and is full of love anger pain and humour.

Thanks for such a brilliant reading

Regards, Peter

[VisionGhostPoet]

Truly wow!! Just poured myself an 8yr old scotch, the better of what was available and so thus here I drink to you David, cos that was brilliant, not just the poem, but your being of recital making a whole new dimension! I must admit, your style is an influence I'd love to follow but I'm too arrogant for that ;)

[SashaLovesYoux3]

loved it

^^

keep it up

[stickynyki]

perfect comments supporting a very well done post.

cheers

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@stickynyki Thanks a lot Nyki! I lift my whiskey to you! :P

[stickynyki]

@DavidRandallCurtis 'cheers'ing back w/ gin. :)

[sonofwalt]

I read this Friday night, David, but didn't have a chance to respond. I am very impressed. You not only read well, but by memory?! One of the best readings I've seen on youtube ever.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@sonofwalt Well, every poem I've ever done on youtube is by memory and with no edits... except for collabs... but even then I do it by memory and send the person doing the editing a one take version of me doing it by heart. there is a real reward to memorizng... on one's own work... hearing and repeating it so many times makes one hear it in a new way... and very often one finds themselves editing when they HEAR what it sounds like....

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@DavidRandallCurtis i am not saying it is the only way to do it.... it is just the only way i can... even live readings... i could not face the audience without knowing everything by heart... (go to aboynameddana's channel--he posted a lot of me live reciting while staring at the audience).... anyhoo.. thanx for your comments... you are very kind. :P

[sonofwalt]

@DavidRandallCurtis, No, I can be a real bastard sometimes. LOL but you do have quite a gift. Problem is I read and reread and edit so much that I can't always remember what the final version of one of my poems is, so I need to have a copy in front of me to refer to. I am better at memorizing the work of others because I haven't heard it 14 different ways yet. :) But to memorize poems of that size? I truly envy the way your brain works. And despite what they may say, it really does work. :)

[NewBrazdolph]

absolutely amazing.I´m speechless.

[taids]

Super sweet reading, sir. Have some love. <3

[rpVerlaine]

great video...buk has influenced so many and the neat trick you did hear was the mood and textures are faithful to the original.

[RowanFortuneWood]

You're reading is fantastic; like and favourite. I now feel the need for more Bukowski.

[sharbohemia]

Very cool, David..

[DickensianDreams]

I wish I could watch this video again for the first time: it was amazing. I didn't see your eyes leave the camera once. Did you have this poem memorized? That's a remarkable feat if you did -- and the passion you put into your reading was wonderful, too; it makes me want to go out right now and buy a Charles Bukowski poetry book.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@DickensianDreams Thanks for the comment. I memorize every poem... long and short ones... and usually stare into the eye of the camera because looking anywhere else distracts me. I have this obsession with doing it in one take with no editing. Of course, sometimes it takes a few takes to get that one take! :P

[floydstinkyboy]

Cowpox was right, you are stark raving mad for memorizing this [amazing] thing.

[Rutle]

Great poem, lovely read.

[tenagliac]

Well spoken sir.

[shirleystemple]

Are you in a hotel room in Detroit, looking for a cigarette, eight nurses with different names walking to the curb in the most decent sometimes sun?

[shirleystemple]

That job with the huge chunks on the hooks had as much sense as defeat, as success. They were days with glass edges, and they told you nothing at all. They told you nothing, they told you everything.

[shirleystemple]

Genau, mein lieber! Echt genau!

"I have written a poem as brilliant as "Something for the touts, the nuns, the grocery clerks and you!!!"

"Have a nice day! (FART!)

No, have "days with glass edges!"

Have a day with a glass edge! :)

Nice one, mate.

Hank'll always bring 'ya down to earth, while simultaneously challenging you to adhere to high standards - preferably your own.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@shirleystemple LOL--good comment! :P Thanks for stopping by!

[onegroovycharmer]

I Love The Triple Shadow going on here

as I do how you read this emotional expressions

all the while looking into our eyes...awesome!

Poker...Night Baseball!

(Chess Queen) loves green grass

& burying bones....Vickie

[RichardRoy2]

Damn. It's been a while. I feel as if you're talking to me. There can be such a fascinating perspective to life. Sometimes there is the ideological side of life, sometimes emotional. Sometimes life seems to lie in both emotional and ideological. Sometimes I wonder if that is where poetry is active. I'm going to have to favorite this one, and look into it again. I don't want to waste such wonderful work. Thanks David.

[Elaina43]

Such stark and varying images - thank you for reading this!

[MidiPunk]

Stark raving mad indeed!

[tinySpectacle]

David, this is a wonderfully good reading: subtle and riveting. You've done it proud.

Lo

[koreamy]

I loved the poem

I loved your voice

[liz1060]

Bukowski ... just the word gives pause to curtsy our heads like schooled children saying "Jesus." Perfect recitation, David, amazing memorization!

[Nigelcf]

WOW! Incredible poem!!!! I'm off to check on Mr. Bukowski pronto! Superbly read as ever David, BIG thumbs up/faved! :-O

[controversialbook]

Homo sapiens! Yuck! You contemporary fools laugh it religious and political lies spewed by sociopaths, lies that tether you forever to poverty and mediocrity. Yet, when your ears come upon the truth, the facts of life, you hide your faces and cry, not able to look at your own creations and destiny. You rush off to what isn't instead of what is. I'm glad I haven't yet evolved and embrace your ways. Signed, Homo Erectus.

[RichardRoy2]

@controversialbook Hey, watch it with that thing; you'll take out someones eye with that.

[controversialbook]

@RichardRoy2 They'd have to be really, really short. David went above and beyond the call on this one. Thanks for the reply.

[smartbluecat]

Fantastic reading, man. Great choice of poem. I always feel my mind turn into a stop motion slide show when I hear this piece... it's an epic journey full of tastes, smells, sights and sounds. Your reading was perfect.

:o)

Gary

[keanghiero]

Brilliant., David. Thanks You.

Charles B. is a very good choice.

All the best

Kean

[Fishfarm]

How did you know that I'd be drinking tonight?

[seekthevisceral]

Beautimous.

[windcu]

Dang! for real...this one took me on trip! *covers face with shame*

[xxxild]

Just *watched this three times, read a little about Bukowski, listened to him read it, then you again. I cant look at you reading this without tearing up, cryin even. You have a large body of work, David; it has enriched my particular sometimes sad life. I guess I just want to thank you for sharing your favorite poem, and doing it so damn well.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@xxxild Dang xxxild. One of MY heros saying something like you that. You make me... ah ah... no no... I can't say it... :p (thanks ;)

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@koryargonic Thanks Kory!

[allgoraro]

Nice choice!

[KrinkleCartoonShow]

@myblisslikethis This is the type of thing that is so long one HAS to read it sober and then get very drunk after (as soon as one has a take with no mistakes) :p

--thanx for the comment! ;)

[JoSieLove2Sing4u]

oh, and me? Yes, obscenely everywhere. ♥

And, yet I wonder WHAT that something is?

Alive enough to transmit and feel...........

and nothing.

I know some slugs.............they no nothing............yet everything.

This was cold, long piece David, did you memorize this? I am impressed, its so ..........well (( you )). Perfect recite.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

@JoSieLove2Sing4u Hey Jo, I did memorize it. It is my favorite poem. I HAD to! Well, I memorize everything except for vlogs... I am kinda twisted that way... this Bukowski masterpiece has a way of getting under your skin...  it is the only poem that has ever made me cry.... *please don't tell anyone I said that* :P

[JoSieLove2Sing4u]

@DavidRandallCurtis - David, this piece not only gets *under your skin*, it travels through your veins.........right to your brain, makes u-turn before landing abruptly in your gut.

[Fishfarm]

How did you know I'd be drinking tonight?

[KrinkleCartoonShow]

@Fishfarm The same way I knew I'D be drinking tonight! :P

[Awwa1]

Yea what a lost artist! I guess he was received during his time. But almost as though he had to live it, the down beat, down troddened way of life, to bring it to us in his words. Oh and nice reading to David! Very nice delivery!

Peace,

\A/

[twohawksfucking]

You da man, my friend. You make this poem rise up out of itself, its fetid landscape and bleakness, and into the light of New Mornings and Cadillacs!

Love the performance!