'Nirvana' A poem by Charles Bukowski, read by Tom Waits

[karl198]

'But then he rose and he followed the others onto the bus' Too true, we all have to. He 'could' stay there but the trappings of life prevent it the unattainable perfection ruined by the time the bus is leaving, the lack of money , the need to do other things. .. :/

[zlaja1969]

Omg, it's so great!!!! Thanks...

[radioslashmusicmixer]

No offense to Tom Waits because he is a talent, a gentleman and a scholar, but hasn't he done enough already? Not to mention, I prefer Bukowski reading his own pieces. And I haven't heard the Bono recitation either. Enjoyed the spitting comment. Tanks for a war!

[perranfulo]

Tom Waits' voice makes me want to spit.

[angeladpinson35]

incredible



[angeladpinson35]

beautiful, I've been there and sometimes I feel as though I've been that waitress..moments ... I've had a pretty good life and it's getting better. This, that is listening to things like this for instance are some of the things I cherish most in life...

[MrPimkiegodess]

Tom Waits reading Charles Bukowski is a dream.

This poem is unbelievable too. There's something about it, I can't quite explain.

[Skepseironeia]

I'd want to stay in that cafe forever too...

[desperatemanblues]

They had not noticed magic

[jova220]

i´m learning inglish..end i can undestand a sketch of poem. I feel it good and the music crate a amazing environment. Thanks!

[VasilisBotoulas]

We must organize a petition for a cd or dvd with Bukowski poems read only by Tom Waits!

[GordonMorrice]

There's great wisdom here. Paradise could be located next to a junk yard, a parking lot, a quarry.

[mujaku]

Waits is an awesome. Only Waits and Bukowski can read Bukowski!

[TrejosEd]

The magic is in the eye of the beholder...

And a keen and sensitive eye can perceive magic in the simple things in life...

[ImTestingSleeping]

I wonder what Bukowski's intention was with this poem. I can see myself reading this two ways. One way is that Bukowski was saying that nirvana is unattainable because the reality that life moves on around you gets in the way.

Another part of me wants to think that Bukowski has the speaker in this poem falling into nirvana once in the cafe, and then again at the end on the bus when he pretends to sleep. Perhaps implying that a state of nirvana is attained by accepting your current situation.

[vanveldhuizen]

@ImTestingSleeping

I like your second way of reading. It's what i feel when i read it. This stuff is awsome.

[Brendon1393]

@ImTestingSleeping I feel he is saying Nirvana is attainable but it can not be caged. Nirvana can only occur for moments at a time. If it were to last, then it would cease to be nirvana , it would become something else...it would become your reality.

[spinnact]

@ImTestingSleeping I think its less of a lesson than that. It's a sad story, the man is living a sort of shit half-life, and the cafe brings him some kind of inexplicable comfort; he feels happy and at home. But, as in life, he can't hide there forever and has to move on, mourning but accepting his loss, his life buoyed - at least for a time - by his momentary nirvana: "there is a light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats the darkness." (Bukowski - The Laughing Heart)

[alexnas81]

awesome

[rorschach01]

Long time Waits fan but just discovered Bukowski..this was lovely indeed.

[captainleg07]

really lovely. this is on Orphans, check it out.

[616Hell]

Great Stuff! You can´t go wrong with Tom Waits & Charles Bukowski! Thanks for posting.

[anwlive]

just to let you know...this is tomw waits, not charles bukowski. great stuff nevertheless.

[abbix]

the poem was written by Charles Bukowski though

[anwlive]

found that out...don't i feel dumb:)