Although many poets use an extensive amount of figurative language in their works, and in fact it has become a staple of the art, some authors choose instead to use simple, crude language, using the poem as a whole as a means of metaphorically examining an event or idea. Charles Bukowski’s prose differs greatly from that of the stereotypical poet, using no grandiose language, glorifying nothing, and hating everything. In his book of poetry “Love is a Dog from Hell” Bukowski observes, what seems to be his everyday life, from an almost philosophical yet plain viewpoint; often using the device of Authorial intrusion in order to give his poetry a more narrative and one on one feel, as if he is speaking directly to you.
The very first poem in his book, Sandra, begins the first stanza entirely as a metaphor describing a woman named Sandra.
Sandra
“is the slim tall
ear-ringed
bedroom damsel
dressed in a long
gown”
Here, Bukowski uses a string of adjectives and nouns to describe Sandra, giving an abstract yet telling metaphorical description. His diction denotes a classy woman as he uses words like damsel and describes her as ear-ringed and wearing a long gown. The next paragraph continues misleadingly with this theme of a woman who seems proper and sophisticated using a common metaphor throughout by using the word “high” in a multitude of interesting ways; “High” being used both literally and figuratively to describe not only the woman’s height but also her personality, demeanor, and habits. In this way Bukowski uses denotation, bluntly explaining the woman.
“…she’s always high
in heels
spirit
pills
booze”
When Bukowski writes that the woman is high in high heels he is elevating her, as if she’s on a pedestal or some angelic figure. He also plays with the words high and heel, separating the two cleverly through two verses. Going further he describes her as being high in spirits but then it is immediately contrasted by her being high on pills and booze. It can be assumed from this that the reason for her jovial demeanor is because of her consumption of narcotics and alcohol.
As the poem continues, other unsavory aspects of Sandra begin to unravel as Bukowski seems to lament on her choice in men.
“at 32 she likes
young neat
unscratched boys
with faces like the bottoms
of new saucers”
Here, Bukowsi uses the simile of unscratched saucers to ingeniously illustrate the image of boys like fine china; pristine, porcelain, Ken dolls, and about with as much intelligence and personality as he later describes:
“silent blonde zeros of young
flesh
who
a) sit
b) stand
c) talk
at her command”
In this stanza it becomes apparent that Sandra likes small minded people who she can control. She seems manipulative and domineering as Bukoski demonstrates through his interesting syntax, using a, b, and c to demonstrate through his euphemism that she treats her lovers like dogs, leaving out conjunctions in order to underscore her commanding tone.
As he concludes Bukowski harkens back to the beginning of the poem with the line “Sandra looks very good in
long gowns”
This seems to continue again with the somber tone which Bukowksi had before. This is unusual because most of his poetry is crude and chauvinistic. Yet he appears to truly miss this woman who is assumedly an ex-lover.
“Sandra could probably break
a man’s heart
I hope she finds
one.”
Bukowsi closes by saying how Sandra has the looks and possibly the personality to really have a man love her and cherish her and one could assume that Bukowski longs to be that man. He however, is confident that she will never find a man amongst the dull, generic, timid boys who she loves to rule over. In the end Bukowski uses the poem as a brilliant metaphor of the poem as Sandra and Sandra as the poem.
martineng215 