Breakfast With Charles

 

 

He tells me he had once boarded a burning train on purpose.

 

I ask if he wants cream in his coffee.

 

"I'll put my cream in your coffee."

 

He makes a sound which I can only describe as a snarf.

 

Reaching past his pot-belly, he furiously rubs his groin.

 

"Crabs."

 

Pulling a pant-leg up, he frees a flask holstered to his ankle.

 

Takes a long swig,

 

lights a cigarette,

 

tells me,

 

"The people walk with such an indifference I begin to hate them,

 

but then again I’ve never really been fond of anything."

 

He talks for awhile spouting his odd-yet-truthful sage wisdom.

 

I close my eyes and think of him as a ruler of men, a Grecian God.

 

I open my eyes.

 

He's redder than Satan and smells like scotch, smoke, and piss.

 

He finishes what's left in his flask and throws it over his shoulder-

 

Like salt for good luck.

 

A new cigarette is lit between his lips before the old one is done dying in the ashtray.

 

Grumbling, belching, scratching, and staring - 5 minutes.

 

I ask if he hates people.

 

"I don't hate them...I just feel better when they're not around."

 

I take this as my cue to leave, and mutter something about being hungry.

 

He mutters back something about his purple onion.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Tannen Dell]

Indigo Rising Magazine seeks original and innovative material. This is a platform for writers to find a place to send their best and brightest work. We are open to a wide array
of arts and literature for readers to enjoy.

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Tannen Dell.
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[Leap]

"He's redder than Satan and smells like scotch, smoke, and piss." --one of my new favorite lines, ever. I'm actually a little jealous. Excellent lady. I'll be reading more soon.

[Tim M]

Fantastic.

[DavidRyanM]

This is awesome, dear. I love Bukowski and it's hard for people, when writing about him, to capture the character that he was, but you do a beautiful job at just that. Well done.

[Jibey]

A vivid portrait of a colourful but revolting figure... sad thing is, they exist... I like the way the poet observes so sharply, endures and then finds the opportunity to escape...

[Matthew Young]

haha, amazing!