In many ways – probably most, Charles Bukowski is not a writer to whom I’d look for any sort of uplifting inspiration. To describe his writing as raw and rough would be a huge understatement. Looking for a reflection on the hopelessness of modern man? The numbness of addiction? The pain of love forgone? He’s your guy. And don’t get me wrong: his blunt, unadorned and usually crude reflections on life are why he’s so admired. It’s because of that style that his poems always hit so sharply, but it is oh-so-rare to read a Bukowski piece and finish feeling some renewed joy for life.
And yet, when asked in 1988 by LIFE Magazine for his answer to the question “Why are we here?”, Bukowski’s response is nothing short of galvanizing.
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“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can’t readily accept the God formula, the big answers don’t remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.”
Charles Bukowski
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