If I were going to send up Charles Bukowski properly on what would've been his 92nd birthday, there would be a whiskey bender, a filthy gutter, and a sweet-faced one-legged hooker. What I can do during work hours is thoroughly upset myself (and you) by re-reading two of his most heartbreaking poems about his first love, Jane Cooney Baker. Tell me they aren't precious things, and I'll tell you your heart is cold.
For Jane: With All the Love I Had, Which Was Not Enough
Ecco has recently made available 10 of Bukowski's eBooks, each at $1.99. If you know the depth and desperate beauty of his work, you know that's a steal. Happy Birthday, Chinaski.