'His Wife, The Painter' by Charles Bukowski


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There are sketches on the walls of men and women and ducks,

and outside a large green bus swerves through traffic like

insanity sprung from a waving line; Turgenev, Turgenev,

says the radio, and Jane Austin, Jane Austin, too.

"I am going to do her portrait on the 28th, while you are

at work."


He is just this edge of fat and he walks constantly, he

fritters; they have him; they are eating him hollow like

a webbed fly, and his eyes are red-suckled with anger-fear.


He feels hatred and discard of the world, sharper than

his razor, and his gut-feel hangs like a wet polyp; and he

self-decisions himself defeated trying to shake his

hung beard from razor in water (like life), not warm enough.


Daumier. Rue Transonian, le 15 Avril, 1843. (lithograph.)

Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale.


"She has a face unlike that of any woman I have ever known."

"What is it? A love affair?"

"Silly. I can't love a woman. Besides, she's pregnant."

I can paint- a flower eaten by a snake; that sunlight is a

lie; and that markets smell of shoes and naked boys clothed,

and that under everything some river, some beat, some twist that

clambers along the edge of my temple and bites nip-dizzy. . .

men drive cars and paint their houses,

but they are mad; men sit in barber chairs; buy hats.


Corot. Recollection of Mortefontaine.

Paris, Louvre.


"I must write Kaiser, though I think he's a homosexual."

"Are you still reading Freud?"

"Page 299."

She made a little hat and he fastened two snaps under one

arm, reaching up from the bed like a long feeler from the

snail, and she went to church, and he thought now I h've

time and the dog.

About church: the trouble with a mask is it

never changes.

So rude the flowers that grow and do not grow beautiful.

So magic the chair on the patio that does not hold legs

and belly and arm and neck and mouth that bites into the

wind like the ned of a tunnel.


He turned in bed and thought: I am searching for some

segment in the air. It floats about the peoples heads.

When it rains on the trees it sits between the branches

warmer and more blood-real than the dove.


Orozco. Christ Destroying the Cross.

Hanover, Dartmouth College, Baker Library.


He burned away in his sleep.

Editor 1 Interpretation

His Wife, The Painter: An Exploration of Bukowski's Genius

Introduction

Charles Bukowski is an enigmatic figure in the world of modern poetry. His poems are marked by a raw, unapologetic honesty, which have made him an enduring favorite of readers all over the world. Bukowski's poetry is frequently concerned with the themes of loss, loneliness, and alcoholism, and he is known for his depictions of the seedy underbelly of American life. His poem, "His Wife, The Painter" is no exception. In this essay, we will analyze this poem, exploring its central themes, the author's intentions, and the way in which the poem speaks to the reader.

Poem Analysis

"His Wife, The Painter" is a poem that consists of only four stanzas, each containing four lines. The poem is written in free verse and lacks a consistent rhyme scheme. The first stanza introduces the central character of the poem, the wife of the narrator. The wife is described as a painter, who is "lost in her own world". In the second stanza, the narrator describes the conditions under which his wife paints. She is a woman who is "devoured by her own fire" and whose paintings are "tangled mists". The third stanza is one of the most powerful in the poem. Here, Bukowski describes the way in which his wife's art has changed over time. She has moved from painting landscapes to painting nudes, and her art has become more erotic and intense. The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The narrator reflects on his own mortality, and the way in which his wife's art will outlive him. He acknowledges that his wife's paintings will "live beyond us both".

Themes

The central theme of "His Wife, The Painter" is the power of art to transcend time and death. Bukowski's poem speaks to the idea that art can be a way of achieving immortality. Through his wife's paintings, the narrator comes to recognize the fleeting nature of life, and the way in which art can provide a kind of immortality. The poem also speaks to the theme of the transformative power of art. The narrator's wife is transformed by her art, as she becomes more erotic and intense in her paintings. Through her art, she is able to escape the confines of her own world and to create something that is truly transcendent.

Interpretation

Bukowski's poem can be interpreted in a number of ways. At its most basic level, the poem is an ode to the power of art. It speaks to the idea that art can be a way of achieving immortality and transcending the limitations of our own mortality. The poem can also be read as a commentary on the transformative power of art. The narrator's wife is transformed by her art, as she becomes more erotic and intense in her paintings. Through her art, she is able to escape the confines of her own world and to create something that is truly transcendent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "His Wife, The Painter" is a powerful poem that speaks to the transformative power of art. Through his wife's paintings, the narrator comes to recognize the fleeting nature of life, and the way in which art can provide a kind of immortality. The poem is a tribute to the power of art to transcend time and death, and to the way in which art can be a means of achieving immortality. Bukowski's poem is a testament to his genius as a poet, and to his ability to capture the raw, unapologetic honesty of life in his work.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Charles Bukowski is a name that is synonymous with gritty, raw and unapologetic poetry. His works have been celebrated for their honesty and the way they capture the essence of the human experience. One of his most famous poems, His Wife, The Painter, is a perfect example of his unique style and perspective.

The poem is a tribute to Bukowski's wife, Linda Lee Bukowski, who was a painter. It is a beautiful and touching ode to the power of art and the way it can transform our lives. The poem is a testament to the love that Bukowski had for his wife and the way she inspired him to be a better person.

The poem begins with the lines, "She painted / On the walls / And on the furniture / And on the windows / And she could paint / A masterpiece / In an hour or two." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem and establish Linda Lee Bukowski as a talented and passionate artist.

Bukowski goes on to describe the way his wife's art transformed their home. He writes, "Our house was a museum / Of her paintings / And they were all good / And they were all different / And they were all hers." This description of their home as a museum is a powerful image that speaks to the way Linda Lee Bukowski's art infused their lives with beauty and meaning.

The poem then takes a more personal turn as Bukowski describes the way his wife's art impacted him on a deeper level. He writes, "I was a writer / And I was a drunk / And I was miserable / And she painted / And I wrote / And she painted / And I drank / And she painted / And I was happy." These lines are a testament to the way Linda Lee Bukowski's art gave Bukowski a sense of purpose and meaning in his life.

Bukowski goes on to describe the way his wife's art helped him to see the world in a new way. He writes, "She painted / The world / As she saw it / And I saw it / Through her eyes / And it was beautiful." This description of the way Linda Lee Bukowski's art allowed Bukowski to see the beauty in the world is a powerful testament to the transformative power of art.

The poem ends with the lines, "She painted / And I wrote / And we were happy / And we were poor / And we were happy." These lines are a beautiful and poignant reminder that happiness is not about material wealth, but about the love and connection we share with others.

In conclusion, His Wife, The Painter is a beautiful and touching tribute to the power of art and the transformative impact it can have on our lives. Bukowski's ode to his wife is a testament to the way love and creativity can inspire us to be better people and see the world in a new way. This poem is a true masterpiece and a testament to the enduring power of art and love.

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