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Bukowski Contest

I watched the blood flow
poetry dripping
coagulating in pools of misery
How could a genius be so careless?
Shaving away our humanity
filtering it through an inebriated brain
Poems in the thousands
orchestrated in the ordinary
Crushing
Truthful
yet not quite right
Genius exacts a toll

Somewhere beyond mirrored ideology
flashes the broken image of man
the smell of whiskey
loose women
one night lays
Lonely is as lonely does

Sticks poked into blind eyes
bones cracking like porcelain vases
adorning the altar of an enigmatic fool
Are we trapped?
Are we idiots?
Do we drink from the well of insignificance?

He sits alone in an empty room
Thinking
Yes Thinking
Until he thinks us out of existance
Yet somehow
Thankfuly
We are still here


Not so Genius

Brilliant none the less. His story is sad but his poetry is riviting.
I enjoyed this contest, facinating person of whom I was not familiar.

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Jeff Connelly

Date: 9/3/2019 6:10:00 AM

Richard, as I mentioned before, I am picking random pages of your poetry; then reading ones that the title captures me. As soon as I saw Bukowski this was a must read. I think this poem brought out the essence of the man. Drinking his booze. Needing more fuel. Great poem Richard.

Jeff Connelly
Date: 9/3/2019 9:40:00 AM

Yes indeed Richard.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/3/2019 7:59:00 AM

Thanks Jeff, I find him to be a compelling Character.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 5/7/2014 4:53:00 PM

Thanks Andrea!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 4/16/2014 8:46:00 PM

well, I can see by what Jerry says below my comment that you took second place. I was CLOSE in predicting first for you. Truly an amazing work. Congratulations.

Jerry T Curtis

Date: 4/14/2014 8:14:00 PM

Congratulations Richard. #2 , That bares a substancial load over just being #1. I still think you nailed it with this brilliant work.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/14/2014 9:46:00 PM

You are kind my friend, thanks.

Skat A

Date: 4/11/2014 10:43:00 PM

RICHARD, Congratulations, on your win:) Enjoyed stopping by. LUV ~SKAT~

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/14/2014 12:45:00 AM

Thanks SKAT

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 4/11/2014 9:42:00 PM

nice win...PD

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/14/2014 12:45:00 AM

Thanks Linda.

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 4/11/2014 6:28:00 AM

Congratulations on a fine win in the Bukowski Contest, richard

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/11/2014 7:58:00 AM

Thanks Dr. Ram

Verlena S. Walker

Date: 4/11/2014 3:02:00 AM

Well done Rick... Verlena

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/11/2014 7:38:00 PM

Thanks for explaining.

Verlena S. Walker
Date: 4/11/2014 5:18:00 PM

Rick, the reason I said well done because you depicted Bukowski well to define whether he was a genius or idiot. I like how state his life and then say he was brilliant in his writing. Well done Rick, once again. Verlena :)s

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/11/2014 8:00:00 AM

Tell me what your thoughts are about the poem. Why dre you saying well done???

Paul Callus

Date: 4/11/2014 2:18:00 AM

I think this is awesome Richard; I read about Budowski recently and you seem to have grasped on to his character very well. // congrats on win. // paul

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/11/2014 8:01:00 AM

Thanks Paul, he was a rather colorful character.

Romella Kitchens

Date: 4/10/2014 10:44:00 PM

Richard, this is an excellent poem.I feel his childhood is what made Bukowski what he was. His father was brusque with him and exacted much physical punishment.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/11/2014 8:02:00 AM

That is a tragic story, with his talent he could have rewritten his own story.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 4/10/2014 8:19:00 PM

Me too [I liked yours best] fav lines [ bones cracking like porcelain vases] Congrad's Light & Love

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/10/2014 8:21:00 PM

Thanks Debbie, this contest was a lot of fun.

Carrie Richards

Date: 4/10/2014 8:15:00 PM

You nailed it... It is hard to distinguish between what is genius, and what is brilliant....... All I know for sure is that he was not humdrum, or boring ........and neither is this riveting and excellent portrayal. Great piece, and well deserved win, Richard! And thank you as always for your kind comments on mine. :)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/10/2014 8:23:00 PM

Oops your message bumped up to Frank.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/10/2014 8:19:00 PM

Great contest, thanks for introducing me to Bukowski.

Amy Green

Date: 4/10/2014 6:52:00 PM

You got him on the nose, in a sense. Loved this piece... thank you for entering my contest.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/10/2014 8:22:00 PM

Oops your message bumped up to Carrie.

Monterey Sirak

Date: 4/9/2014 7:44:00 AM

This is brilliant work! Now I have to go check this guy out.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/9/2014 8:18:00 AM

He is a rather colorful fellow. I enjoyed writing this one.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 4/7/2014 11:40:00 PM

I think you will take first place. I have not really seen any poems done for this contest except yours but this amazing and I doubt anyone can do it this well!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/7/2014 11:48:00 PM

Wow, thanks Andrea.

Jerry T Curtis

Date: 4/7/2014 8:22:00 PM

I read an extensive Bio on this guy and got nothing. Wow ! Richard, I think you nailed it

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/7/2014 8:41:00 PM

Thanks Jerry, I really felt this one for some reason. I'm pleased it resonated with you.

Eileen Manassian

Date: 4/6/2014 3:06:00 PM

I don't know this guy....I know you. Your work is riveting...You just keep getting better, Richard.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/6/2014 3:11:00 PM

Thanks Eileen, you may be a bit bias in my favor.;0)

Jack Jordan

Date: 4/6/2014 2:26:00 PM

Richard, My apologies for not being around for a while. I've made a major but temporary move to the NW corner of the USA. Adjusting is more difficult than I thought it would be. However, I'm recovering slowly, slowly ... Jack

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/6/2014 2:28:00 PM

So nice to see you Jack. I hope the move exceeds your expectations

Russell Sivey

Date: 4/6/2014 10:29:00 AM

I must agree with Debbie, she has a very good eye for things like the incredible vocabulary and metaphors within your write! I really enjoyed reading this enlightening poem here this morning! What a fabulous piece, Great Work!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/6/2014 12:42:00 PM

Thanks Russell, I appreciate the encouragement.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 4/6/2014 9:45:00 AM

I'm with Charlotte, very good free verse the use of alliteration had me riveted just where you wanted me to be, the use of mouth watering vocabulary also enriched [coagulating][inebriated][enigmatic] also most excellent use of metaphor [bone cracking like] Light & Love

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/6/2014 12:44:00 PM

Wow, great feedback. Thanks Debbie.

Scott Thirtyseven

Date: 4/5/2014 9:17:00 PM

Great piece for the competition. A good read, very engaging, and thought provoking. Thank you for your regular visits, I return to Australia on Tuesday, so intend to post again prior to that. How to follow up Doubts though? I haven't written as well as that since, and we're talking nearly a year.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/6/2014 8:44:00 AM

If you can do it once you can do it 1000 times. I suspect you will surpass your own expectations.

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 4/5/2014 6:42:00 PM

I'm finally catching up with my commenting! admittedly, I've not read a vast number of your poems, but of those I have read this is certainly right up there with the best; I think it is a terrific entry for the contest - you should write free verse more often! I don't know that much about him either, I shall look him up...

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/5/2014 6:48:00 PM

Hi Charlotte, I have written quite a few free verse. If you have a chance take a peek, there may be others to your liking. Thanks for the visit and positive comment.