I recently read The Laughing Heart and Roll the Dice; both are poems of Charles Bukowski. Prior to this, I’ve not yet read any of his works that I can more immediately recall which have left an impact on me. I very firmly believe that writers and thoughts come to you in life, when and in the ways for which you need them. I believe the energy you are seeking, is also seeking you. More specifically, I’ve been thinking about the concept of energy a great deal lately.

These poems each resonated with me, as themes within them which have scents of living a life of worth, taking risks, and going with full conviction. Perhaps with this, I’d learned that freedom lies on the opposite side of fear.

It is not only in our personal understandings of text which we find answers, whether we are seeking them or not, but rather if our respective energy sources are open to understanding them, it will eventually happen.

My favorite thing about people is being able to slowly uncover their selves. To understand what is the true essence of a human. It is not only the leaves of flowers which give them essence, but rather it is actually stemmed from the bud. There is beauty and challenge in understanding the core of a person. This core includes the poems which have inspired their lives, what their fears are and how they were acquired, and who their role models are and what specific qualities are appreciated the most from them. I am so curious; each person a chest of experience. For this reason, I find it important to first meet others with empathy.  

One of my favorite phrases from Bukowski’s Roll the Dice:

“you will ride life straight to

perfect laughter, its

the only good fight

there is.”

To fight the good fight, and to ride life to ‘perfect laughter’ is an extraordinary sensation, deduced to words. What liberation a sense of developed language is, and can be to one who is able to comprehend. This thought reminds me of my favorite poet, Tyler Knott Gregson, whom does not share the background experience behind his works, but rather manufactures the experience for the reader to self-interpret the text and extract what is beneficial and meaningful. 

Sometimes I wonder if, after all, all we’re trying to do is understand more, in depth, and in breadth, the universe around us. There is much work. 

Anna Badrieh