You Ain't No Bukowski - The Humble Art Of Talking To Ourselves

You Ain’t No Bukowski

so Norma
did you read my poem

I did

so I don’t like to ask but
what’d ya think Harlan asked

I like it Norma said

yeah it just puked right out

that’s great Harlan

I got in the shower
and there it was

singing in the rain again Norma teased

just got a line in my head Harlan said

uh huh Norma nodded

got a line and couldn’t stop

in the moment right Norma said

like spontaneous combustion
it’s exiting when it happens like that said Harlan

I bet it is

five minutes it was finito he said

yeah

so you liked it Harlan asked again

I said I did Norma said

but was it too Bukowski

what

I mean it was pretty raw he said

were your feelings raw Harlan

yeah it poured right outta me

then it’s perfect Norma said

but not too Bukowski Harlan probed again

are you Bukowski Norma asked

no but

trying to be Bukowski she asked

were they your own feelings Harlan

well yeah

your own words

yeah

so it’s yours Harlan
own it it’s great Norma said

I still question myself too much Harlan lamented

maybe you should tell that good boy inside
to take a frickin’ hike Norma said

you’re right Norma

okay

okay I OWN it
it’s MINE Harlan said

there you go
you’re Harlan the Poet

thanks for that slap in the balls Norma

any time dear

I HARLAN
OWN MY FEELINGS AND MY WORDS
IT’S MY POEM

now you got it Norma said
and besides
you know I love ya Harlan
but you ain’t no Bukowski

— Harlan