The Genius of the Crowd
by Charles Bukowski
there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day
and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace
those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach love do not have love
beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average
but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect
like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock
their finest art
by Charles Bukowski
there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day
and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace
those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach love do not have love
beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average
but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect
like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock
their finest art
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 21
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 500, Bronze: 600
- Final notes: Thanks for coming out for the Buk!
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5453117, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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8:35
a rainy morningby Judith Chandler 14 lines, 12 comments, on Jun 20 8:10 AM. In Contest• Commented on by judge. -
Henry is spent,
the candy that was hidden in the jarby Lute 35 lines, 5 comments, on Jun 20 7:28 PM• Commented on by judge. -
I was raised in a working class family.
My mother was a peasant• Commented on by judge. -
art liberating soul
take us on journey of selfless• Commented on by judge. -
by Freed by Mercy 135 lines, 12 comments, on Jun 18 10:21 PM. In Sad, Society, Personal, Depression, Suicide, Children, Teen issues• Commented on by judge.
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I destroyed a life today
Held it till it chirped no moreby andywontdie 70 lines, 6 comments, on Jun 18 11:03 AM. In Contemporary, Contest, Life, Nature, Other, Personal, Spiritual, Thoughts• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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wow... I'm not sure if I had read this poem before, but it's beautiful and, most of all, wise... I'd like to enter, though this feels SO complete, I don't know what else there is to say. I think we all can see ourselves and the people around us in this poem.
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This is some fine Bukowski. The older I get, the more I appreciate him.
Mac -
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For all the numbskulls who think Bukowski is about fucking and beer.
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incredible poem!
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Trying to think of something he left out, but cant. I havent writen anything good in a long time. And i sure cant top that that..
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gonna give this a shot, do not know the poet at all much to learn
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What a great prompt. I think there's a little of Bukowski's people in all of us.
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gotta love The Buk, will be back
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what a brilliant poem. i know i have read that poem before but it is even better now...
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oh, I know this poem...all too well, read it about a billion times...love it!
well chosen piece for a contest -
thanks so much for gold and an inspiring prompt....it's an honor especially with all the quality entries in this contest
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Thank you so much for the Bronze Cup! I like Bukowski's poetry but for some reason this paticular one touched me more than most.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS HERE!
Much Love ♥
Renee
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