{"product_id":"9780061857171_the-last-night-of-the-earth-poems","title":"The Last Night of the Earth Poems","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Last Night of the Earth Poems\u003c\/i\u003e, Charles Bukowski reckons with writing, death and immortality, literature, city life, illness, war, and the past.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles.”—Joyce Carol Oates, bestselling author\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels.”—Leonard Cohen, songwriter  The poems in the first three sections of this book were published in three volumes: \u003ci\u003eIt Catches My Heart in its Hands\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCrucifix in a Deathhand\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAt Terror Street, and Agony Way\u003c\/i\u003e.  Bukowski wrote in his introduction \"Looking at these poems written between 1955 and 1973 I like (for one reason or another) the last poems best. I am pleased with this. I have, of course, no idea what shape my future poems will take, or even if I will write any, because I have no idea how long I will go on living, but since I began writing poetry quite late in life, at the age of 35, I like to think they'll give me a few extra years now, at this end. Meanwhile, the poems that follow will have to do.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGritty Realism:\u003c\/b\u003e Find beauty and despair in the mundane—from racetracks and flophouses to the quiet desperation of a 9-to-5 job.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eUnflinching Voice:\u003c\/b\u003e Experience the raw, direct, and darkly humorous style that made Bukowski a counter-culture legend.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePoems of Survival:\u003c\/b\u003e A collection that stares into the abyss of mortality, illness, and failure, and somehow finds a reason to keep going.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Writer’s Life:\u003c\/b\u003e Go behind the curtain as Bukowski confronts the agony of the blank page, the absurdity of the literary world, and the salvation of the word.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Charles Bukowski","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46908497363093,"sku":"9780061857171","price":12.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/3175\/9509\/files\/9780061857171_8b2d6c78-57bc-4047-a170-ae00d1de090f.jpg?v=1776890056","url":"https:\/\/harpercollins.com.au\/products\/9780061857171_the-last-night-of-the-earth-poems","provider":"HarperCollins AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}