The Poet: Charles Bukowski, “Mind and Heart”

“Mind and Heart”

“Unaccountably we are alone,

forever alone,

and it was meant to be

that way,

it was never meant

to be any other way -

and when the death struggle begins

the last thing I wish to see is

a ring of human faces

hovering over me -

better just my old friends,

the walls of my self,

let only them be there.

I have been alone but seldom lonely.

I have satisfied my thirst

at the well of my self

and that wine was good,

the best I ever had,

and tonight, sitting,

staring into the dark

I now finally understand

the dark and the

light and everything

in between.

Peace of mind and heart arrives

when we accept what is:

having been born into this strange life

we must accept

the wasted gamble of our days,

and take some satisfaction in

the pleasure of leaving it all behind.

Cry not for me.

Grieve not for me.

Read

what I’ve written

then forget it all.

Drink from the well

of your self and begin again.”

- Charles Bukowski