Sad I can't respond to the misanthrope Bukowski in kind, Tom. Not that enamored of Larkin, either. They were both miserable Ezras. [ if post is just pending approval, forgive me ] And Charles was a woman beater, once he'd had a few. Why would I respect anything he wrote? Larkin was jaundiced, but it's a point of view. Or, I may be jaundiced. It's the Leibniz v. Voltaire way of thinking.
I always find it instructive to address the ideas instead of the man. Truth is not the strict purview of gods and saints. If there is anything to gleam from Bukowski's life and work, its this fact.
bin don Separate the man from the artist or better still avoid acquainting yourself with works of misanthropes and pessimists. If you fish for something to hate you will find it and rage endlessly like Larkin or Bukowski. The difference between you and them will be the fact that they had no illusions about death and humanity. Always remove the name if your goal is to enjoy art unless if you are an activist.
I also don't understand where all are getting ideas that he was a misanthrope. He said it himself - "I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around." :) There is a very big difference between a misanthrope and a person who enjoys his company. And artists usually do, and especially writers.
Holy fuck what just happened to me listening to this! Why did I cry?
Tom O'Bedlam has the best poetry reading voice.....or at least, the best Buk voice.....so good that I think Buk must have sounded like that. ;)
Your taste in poetry is amazing and your voice is so soothing.
Really like this poet, thank you for reading his works.
Your voice is perfect for buk. thanks for your great work!
One of the great elegies to pessimism, and an ode to despair, from the great Bukowski.
I'd like Tom to read some Ken Smith.
Thank you for that.
Your voice fits perfectly with that poem.
"And people are not good to each other" A so sad view of this world
Erika CAUBET-BACHEM an Honest view .
Inspiring and beautifully read, thank you.
Be excellent to each other.
i can manage without the images but ur voice is super
Nobody can surpass that poem..Excellent. .
Thank you, Tom
tom i love everything you read. what a great voice. are you a professional vocalist?
VERY GOOD VIDEO I REALLY LIKE ALL IT SAYS IT IS DOING TONS OF GOOD FOR ME
the reading is very nice and it's a good study in despair... i could pass on the visual images.
Tom O Bedlam you are great. Could you please read the poem Tom O Bedlam that you are named after?
Sure - here it is: th-cam.com/video/UfceiMe45go/w-d-xo.html
Good Colombian coke more beer that's all I will remember.
I didn't like all of the images (Marathon Man? ) but your voice so suits Bucowski.
They're from movies of the same year the poem was written, to give some idea of the spirit of the age. Maybe they influenced him, maybe not.
kiitos
Sad I can't respond to the misanthrope Bukowski in kind, Tom. Not that enamored of Larkin, either. They were both miserable Ezras. [ if post is just pending approval, forgive me ] And Charles was a woman beater, once he'd had a few. Why would I respect anything he wrote? Larkin was jaundiced, but it's a point of view. Or, I may be jaundiced. It's the Leibniz v. Voltaire way of thinking.
I always find it instructive to address the ideas instead of the man. Truth is not the strict purview of gods and saints. If there is anything to gleam from Bukowski's life and work, its this fact.
bin don Separate the man from the artist or better still avoid acquainting yourself with works of misanthropes and pessimists. If you fish for something to hate you will find it and rage endlessly like Larkin or Bukowski. The difference between you and them will be the fact that they had no illusions about death and humanity. Always remove the name if your goal is to enjoy art unless if you are an activist.
I also don't understand where all are getting ideas that he was a misanthrope. He said it himself - "I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around." :) There is a very big difference between a misanthrope and a person who enjoys his company. And artists usually do, and especially writers.