the worst and the best
in the hospitals and in jails
it's the worst
in madhouses
it's the worst
in skid row flophouses
it's the worst
at poetry readings
at rock concerts
at benefits for the disabled
it's the worst
at funerals
at weddings
it's the worst
at parades
at skating rinks
at sexual orgies
it's the worst
at midnight
at 3 a.m.
at 5:45 p.m.
it's the worstfalling through the sky
firing squads
that's the bestthinking of India
looking at popcorn stands
watching the bull get the matador
that's the bestboxed lightbulbs
an old dog scratching
peanuts in a celluloid bag
that's the bestspraying roaches
a clean pair of stockings
natural guts defeating natural talent
that's the bestin front of firing squads
throwing crusts to seagulls
slicing tomatoes
that's the bestrugs with cigarette burns
cracks in sidewalks
waitresses still sane
that's the bestmy hands dead
my heart dead
silence
adagio of rocks
the world ablaze
that's the best
for me.
Charles Bukowski, from Love is a Dog from Hell
Black Sparrow Press, 1997