Poetry Sunday: For the Foxes

While searching for a poem to be featured this week, something on the theme of September, I came across a poem called For the Foxes by Charles Bukowski. I'm not really familiar with the poetry of Bukowski. In fact, I knew little about him beyond his name. He was a bit of a maverick among poets who wrote, as one critic said, "from the frayed edge of society."
The experiences that he drew on for inspiration for his poetry are very different from my own and I can't claim to fully understand what he has written, and yet I really like For the Foxes. The image of people who fidget and complain and constantly rearrange their lives like furniture; the warning to beware of those who only take instructions from their God; those who juggle mates and attitudes in constant confusion - I know these people.
But why the heck did he call the poem For the Foxes? I have no idea, but I find my lack of understanding is no barrier to my enjoyment.

For the Foxes
by Charles Bukowski 
don't feel sorry for me.

I am a competent,
satisfied human being.

be sorry for the others
who
fidget
complain

who 
constantly
rearrange their
lives 
like 
furniture.

juggling mates
and
attitudes

their
confusion is
constant

and it will
touch
whoever they 
deal with.

beware of them:
one of their
key words is
"love."

and beware those who
only take
instructions from their
God

for they have 
failed completely to live their own
lives.

don't feel sorry for me
because I am alone

for even 
at the most terrible
moments
humor
is my 
companion.

I am a dog walking
backwards

I am a broken
banjo

I am a telephone wire
strung up in
Toledo, Ohio

I am a man
eating a meal
this night
in the month of
September.

put your sympathy
aside.

they say
water held up
Christ:
to come
through
you better be
nearly as
lucky.

Comments

  1. I like it. Regarding the title probably he associated those people he is talking about with a quality foxes possess. Maybe taking advantage of others?

    ReplyDelete

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