there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he's singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?
Notes
This was published in Bukowski's book "The Last Night of the Earth Poems" circa 1992
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Comments
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I do love your poetry Buk. It's simple but filled with emotion. You're the best.
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Beauty and sadness all in one.
From guest Alan G (contact)
How I love this one, the writing alone is great and very colorful, but the reading by Bukowski was much more then great. google for it, the piece comes alive while he's reading it. -
Bluebird in the heart
From guest Chris Bittar (contact)
Bukowski The Great . His stories,his essays,his rhetoric and his ramblings. They all have a coherent truth. Only a few truly know the struggle to keep the bluebird inside. This particular work has always hit home. " If there is a heaven and god I hope there is. He's up there right now drunk as a fuckin' monkey and smokin' shit" -
From guest sandra johnson (contact)
if i remembered how to cry i think i might have a little because this poem made the back of my eyelids feel hot. especially when he tells the bluebird not to be sad because he knows he's in there. -
I love this poem. It's raw, emotional, heart-wrenching and overall just beautiful. There could not be a more perfect poem. Bukowski was truly an amazing man.
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There's a Bluebird in my Heart
From guest James Travis (contact)
No, But after reading this I would not be ashamed If something so strange Should happen. -
blue bird
From guest mike powell (contact)
It is just so beautiful and pure. I have been there it is tough being a drunk damn hard . It is tough being a tough man too. Life is just a bitch most of the time. -
From guest debilynn (contact)
beautiful! beautiful! how an old man still harbored the love and joy and peace in life even though he had so much negative in his life. we are all like this. afraid to be ourselves in front of everyone. we keep our bluebird hidden and only bring it out at night or alone. a serious poem written with a lighter than called for sense -
From guest Brendan (contact)
the poem was published in "last night of the earth poems" (1992). <3 buk -
does anyone know???
Hey, does anyone know the copyright date of this piece??? I love it, and it's my best friends favorite, and for the life of us we CANNOT find it in any Bukowski books we find... and i was looking on line and i foudn more books but no idex's, but there were copyright years, so yeah, if anyone knows that, i'll love you forever. thanks -
This poem is so raw it's painful to read. I've read it three or four times now and each time it brings me closer to tears but still I don't cry - it just emphasises his message. This really is the beauty of artistic expression. Barbie. Xx
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This is a GREAT poem.
Clear and simple, yet profound and "poetic."
Bukowski was a great poet. And if you think this is a great poem, I encourage you to pick up whole volumes of his work.
Start with "The Roominghouse Madrigals" and go from there.
Bukowski--and his crazy, non-conformist life--were a divine gift to every self-aware human being walking this planet. -
wow... this was an AMAZING poem. I can hardly find words to describe it. beautiful job
jen -
I love this it brings happy thoughts to mind....
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I think we can all relate to this. Afraid to show our true selves so we cover up with alcohol etc. Only let the bluebird out at night when we know we won't be laughed at. WEll that's how I interpreted it. What great imagery.
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I'm not at my fullest right now. Must be that bluebird dying in my heart. Weeping is nice for men, do you? That's great stuff. So on the edge of wanting more, but dealing with only what the world wants to see. I'm stuck, as is this man I think, and I can relate fully to the piece, in almost every aspect.
Peace
Chris -
There isn't any comment I can make that will do this poem justice. But there is such an unstated sadness in the denial present in this, that I read this piece over and over.
I wonder if the bluebird is a baby bird. I know how it feels to have a baby bird heart.
One of my fave poems on Old Poetry. A new fave, since I only just found it.
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