"The Icecream People" by Charles Bukowski (poetry reading)

It would be hard to prove that substituting icecream for booze has any health benefits. Except, of course, as a cure for Brewer's Droop. It could be called, "The Power of Placebo."

I realised that I had to pronounce "Clerk" like an American. A British soldier, a driver, told me that he visited an American camp to pick up an officer. While he waited he made idle conversation with the Desk Sergeant, who asked him what he did in civilian life. "I was a Bookmaker's Clerk" he replied. "A clerk?" said the Sergeant, "ain't that one of those things that goes tick-tock?"

I once read that you're an alcoholic if you get 30% of your calories from alcohol. That's surprisingly easy to do. You don't even need to get drunk. A bottle of wine or a cupful of spirits or 3 large cans of strong beer are each more than 500 calories' worth of alcohol.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Icecream
• People
• Charles
• Bukowski

[dalimadison1]

wish i could hear Buk recite this one...........

[cottageorgan]

Thank you for this and all your readings...Dear old Hank.

[freebirg]

THERE IS USE FOR THE PECKER! haha. But seriously, this is an amazing poem.

[virginiarocket]

As someone who is also trying to stop drinking - I can hear the sadness in his voice - to me - at this time - the poem represents boredom and sadness...the frivolity of buying fluffy ice cream a stark contrast to what was his previous reality of drink. Drink seems almost more real. Ice cream sugary and unnecessary.

[getupanddosomething]

I really love this poem. I've been through my rough patches in life, and there were times when I felt like I would never fit in with the Icecream People. I was skeptical of their happiness, out of ignorance of course, and it makes me feel really good knowing that someone else has seen the world that way. Thank you for your reading, and for introducing this poem to me.

[luckyycharrm]

@wasteland70 so great to find someone who agrees with me. I get what you mean.

[wasteland70]

@luckyycharrm I have problems with Bukowski's work, too. I do think that, on certain occasions he did capture a moment, he did write poems that are different and lovely. There is an elegance to some of his work. Is he the greatest poet ever, probably not. He did, however, capture a moment. And some of those moments are so sweet with emotion.

[wasteland70]

@lacchus Ice cream and beer? The last time I tried that, well, it didn't go well!!! LOL!!