Gritty poetry
Some poems fly by. Others leave an impression. And then there’s the ones which shakes. “Go all the way” is one of those poems.
Go All The Way
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
Otherwise, don’t even start.
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe even your mind.
It could mean not eating for three or four days.
It could mean freezing on a park bench.
It could mean jail.
It could mean derision, mockery, isolation.
Isolation is the gift.
All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it.
And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds.
And it will be better than anything else you can imagine.
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
There is no other feeling like that.
You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire.
DO IT. DO IT. DO IT. All the way
You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.
Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
American writer and poet, who wrote with an unprecedented honesty and rawness.
His work often explored themes of alcoholism, poverty, and the gritty realities of urban life, which can be both relatable and thought-provoking for many.
Perspective
The letters at the top are slightly scaled down, to support the optical illusion of perspective.
Background
The black background has mixed in charcoal pigment, that ads a slightly reflective, imperfect layer. For a gritty poet like Bukowski, a smooth layer just didn’t seem appropriate.