"It's a beer shit" - Bukowski Contest Winners

The time is upon us.  The winners are picked.  But I'd like to say a few things first, for the sake of transparency.  Mine, and everyone's, is a relative sensibility.  You know that.  For some sense of correctness or consistency, I read every poem imagining the words coming from Buk's mouth.

I wanted it to sound natural.  Then I read through a book or two of his poems, for a reminder of his rhythm and humor.  And, of course, I wanted the poem to be able to stand by itself.  I hope that these modest preparations put me on solid ground to assess.  That said, every poem was great.  Everyone had at least a few lines that were wicked  I'm very pleased that this contest helped them come into being (if not, I take no credit).

The winners will all receive a copy of The People Look Like Flowers At Last -- the fifth and final posthumous collection of new poetry from Ecco.  They will also receive a ton of Buk swag -- t-shirts, bumper stickers, magnets, etc.  In addition, 1st place will receive an original Black Sparrow Press Buk book of my choosing.  2nd place -- one of three newly repackaged Buk novels.  And 3rd place -- a stained love note from a mental patient.

And remember each one is meant to be his last poem.  Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

First Place

"that's it"

well
no one
is at my door
with a six pack
or ringing me on the phone
to see if they can come over
to show me some pomes
they're sure I'll love
all the horses
and whores
have run out
li po and hem and dos
are gone and sibelieus and
jeffers are gone
mozart and
mccullers are gone and
me
I'm left here
with my cats
in this room
to finish this glass
and watch the window
to see
if the sun
goes down
in an unusual

way.

- Stephen from Darthmouth, Nova Scotia

Second Place

"my kind of insanity"

the sensation
is totally sufficient
to understand that
suffering
is unpleasant.

yet it needs sanity
to also sense that
for others.

- Nikolaus from Ottweiler, Germany

Third Place

"swan song"

there are so many loose ends
so many things left undone
unfinished
and this unfinished business
hangs in the air
cat tails swaying
in an uneasy breeze.
the typer silent now
loose ends
love gone wrong
women
hot and wet
once spread their legs for me
once parted their thighs in anticipation
but there would be no revelation.
and still
with every thrust
they demanded more
more than I could ever give
more, more
clinging pounding
but I never had what they wanted
I could not give them
the permanence they had bargained for.
I didn't have the answers then
and I sure as hell
don't have them now.
once women
hot and wet
came to me
spread their legs for me
once women
begged for me,
Chinanski...

if they could only see me know
waiting on that last nail.

just another loose end,
just another piece
of unfinished business

just another old fuck in the dark.

- Bob from Tempe, AZ

Comments

[leon spinks]

"that's it" is perfect. congrats to stephen.

How many entries were there?

[Mike]

Here here. There were twenty entries in all--a fair number, I think.