-after Bukowski
To pricks and phenomenal twats
go the Canadian coins.
For each of them-
the crusty mumbler
the effete suit
the gloved voice
the presumptuous taskmaster
the sighing Bovary-
my money trough withheld, waited.
I meted
thin copper cool
and tender lies.
Monday, April 13, 2009
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3 comments:
The Bovary mention caught my eye. What cultural references (present/historical) did Bukowski use and if you had to change Bovary to something else, perhaps but not necessarily of your immediate, today environment, what would you replace with?
I wrote this after Bukowski, not in his particular style, but rather in his attitude. Perhaps I tried to replicate his resentful tolerance of the petty and mundane. I'm not sure if he actually used many literary allusions.
I hate Bovary (the character), so I often view females (or any gender) who affects aesthetic/cultural maturity but with a tangibly sophomoric attitude. I see it in those customers who appear sullen but want you to know that they are artistically attuned and different (perhaps this is the culmination of my bizarre presumptions). In lieu of Bovary, I would opt for something that conveys the vacuous pretensions of certain female customers...
Any suggestions?
You say customer and Maggie's the first thing that pops into my head. But if we take a step back . . . I wish I had my Crime and Punishment on me here. The female (gee-ef? or is it sister?) in that is quite suitable. But sometimes it's even better to throw in some dry humor. Approach it like Donald B. approaches his short stories: put in lots of half-ass sounding characters that represent (i.e. could be) the masses of society, extend the dry, so to speak.
I'm thinking somebody like Carol. But then again, you should make it your own.
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