Revisiting Charles Bukowski using AI

Charles Bukowski was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. He is known for his raw and gritty writing style, which often focuses on the harsh realities of urban life, alcoholism, and relationships. Bukowski’s work is often autobiographical, drawing heavily from his own experiences as a working-class writer and alcoholic. Some of his most famous works include the novel “Post Office”, “Ham on Rye”, the poetry collections “Love is a Dog From Hell” and “The Last Night of the Earth Poems,” and the short story collection “Hot Water Music.” Despite his often controversial subject matter, Bukowski remains a significant figure in American literature, particularly for his contributions to the genre of “dirty realism”.

Being a big fan of Bukowski made me want to imagine what it would be like if he lived today. Consider the scenes in which we might find Bukowski. The first scene that is a must is him at his desk, in a small, simple room, with bottles of wine at the ready.

He was also a big fan of horse racing. There are many accounts within his novels of him either blowing what little money he had at the race track or leaving a hero, with a woman in his arms. It was one of his favorite activities.

Bukowski is also remembered for his poetry reading. He would travel around the country and entertain thousands with his drunken wit in the form of anecdotes and poems. Perhaps in the future, he could have also taken advantage of the more modern forms of presentation.

We asked Chat GPT to write a poem in Bukowski’s style.

The whiskey bottle sits on my table,
a friend who’s always willing and able,
to drown out the noise and the pain,
that follows me like a stubborn rain.

I take a swig, and feel the burn,
as the liquid slides down, I start to yearn,
for the comfort it brings, the numbness it gives,
the freedom from life and the way it lives.

The world outside is a cruel place,
with people always rushing to win the race,
but here in my room, with my whiskey and smokes,
I can forget it all, and laugh at their jokes.

The empty bottle’s my only friend,
as I stumble and sway, ’til the bitter end,
but it’s better than facing the harsh daylight,
with all its problems and endless fight.

So I’ll drink to the past, to the love that’s gone,
to the dreams that died, and the battles won,
and when the bottle’s dry and the morning comes,
I’ll do it again, ’til the whiskey numbs.

We hope you enjoyed this article! Leave a comment if you’ve read Bukowski and which of his works is your favorite.