the bluebird by Charles Bukowski.

the bluebird.

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be sad.

then I put him back,
but he's still singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?

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[Hogswoth]

You didn't write it.

[blairtoo]

that's right. i didn't write it.

[jackwardjw]

I completely agree with you blairtoo; I love bluebird and also think ham on rye is his best novel (although admittedly I have only read a few of his books). Great post.

[blairtoo]

thanks for your kind comment.

[blinkboy2008]

great choice of poem blairtoo, but which bukowski novel would you say is the best? I would have to go with the obvious and say Post Office

[blairtoo]

hello blink2008,

hey, "post office" is a great choice. but my favorite bukowski novel is "ham on rye" the book about growing up and his father. thanks for the comment.

[AKfromUSA]

You suck. Why would you knock him for reading a poem he enjoys. If you dont like the way he reads it just move on.

[teelanes2u]

go to the back of the fuckin class

[skiddy666]

Is it not good enough that he loves good poetry? Who cares about his reading skills, I just love the fact that he is trying to spread beautiful words. Fuck off with the elite attitude

[burnsyyz66]

you BUTCHERED that poem. Do us all a favour. and never read allowed

[rattilus]

it's supposed to be read slowly and emotionally

[BradfordsVee]

how do you think Hank would have read it?

[hintergedanken]

How dare you destroy a Poem in such a miserable way?!? ..that's disgusting, even worse.

Fanculo idiota!

[ohanlon1985]

You murdered this fucking poem.  You killed that fucking bluebird

[tj]

Harry Dean Stanton reads this poem on You Tube. Look for it. It's like night and day. The guy here, is not a reader. Stanton is, and he has the voice for it, too.

[jgilmer]

Thanks guy!! I love this poem..and I usually hate poetry!! But Bukowski does something to me.....This poem speaks to me because I try to curb any emotion but I let it sit in my gut...or maybe I've had too much to drink!! its your call!!

[meleethe13]

Dude,are you reading poetry or the news?