16-bit Intel 8088 chip (c. 1985)

16-bit Intel 8088 chip

with an Apple Macintosh
you can’t run Radio Shack programs
in its disc drive.
nor can a Commodore 64
drive read a file
you have created on an
IBM Personal Computer.
both Kaypro and Osborne computers use
the CP/M operating system
but can’t read each other’s
handwriting
for they format (write
on) discs in different
ways.
the Tandy 2000 runs MS-DOS but
can’t use most programs produced for
the IBM Personal Computer
unless certain
bits and bytes are
altered
but the wind still blows over
Savannah
and in the Spring
the turkey buzzard struts and
flounces before his
hens.

Analysis ( hide ) Places tech’s petty squabbles next to timeless nature. It pits the frustrating, proprietary world of early personal computing against the unchanging rituals of the natural world, a classic move for this writer who always found the eternal in the gutter.
Form mirrors the fragmented tech landscape. The short, abrupt lines and jarring line breaks feel like a system error or a jammed disk drive, a blunt formal experiment compared to his usually raw but fluid lines about bars and racetracks.
A sneer at capitalist nonsense masked as progress. The whole poem lists incompatible systems, echoing his lifelong disgust with any system – be it jobs, government, or now, consumer tech – designed to trap and frustrate the ordinary person.
The punchline is pure, old-school him. After the tech rant, the switch to the turkey buzzard is classic: a crude, ugly bird performing a mating ritual is the real, unchanging operating system, undercutting all the human silliness that came before.
It reads like a prophecy for today’s walled gardens. Written in the early days, it perfectly predicts our modern frustrations with incompatible apps, operating systems, and digital ecosystems, making a 40-year-old poem feel ripped from a current tech forum. (ai)

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Galaktički Vapaj

Maestro!

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Uncle Spencer

This is a damn masterpiece as far as I’m concerned.

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DualisticAbyss

Beautiful

Lovely

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cowpox

Reminds me of david foster wallace this poem does.

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John669

This guy was definitely an early adopter. He knew of which he spoke. He perfectly described the early days of the computer, tech trying this way and that way to be born. Like humans, tech had (then at least) a hard time interacting with any different tech. Unlike humans, it seems to be getting over it. Meanwhile the world spins on, oblivious to all the human and technological fu*kery. It is intent on fuc*ery of its own.

Liked it

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Kenneth The Poet

I think he’d love how one corporation cornered the O/S market, but at the same time probably not. A great write from a true master.

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Jessica Anders91

perfectly sums of the digital world. this computer needs that. this operating system needs this update. computers are picky motherfuckers. i prefer the notebook most of all. i can’t picture bukowski at a computer. you probably preferred your typewriter

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Anorexic Angel

I can’t imagine Bukowski with technology

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Inactive

Things are less complicated when it comes to Nature.

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Escaped Poet

Witty as ever!

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Michael Dennis Rivers

Great writer… in the early days of home computing there were several companies vieing for the chance to become number one. There was a need to compete and to make your computer system different from all the others. In the end, IBM gave Microsoft the software ball for nothing!!!! and lucky Bill Gates became the richest man in America.

This poem by Bukowski evinces his frustration over all the differences and in the end he say it doesn’t change much in the real world.

In truth, the ability for people to write with ease was greatly enhanced by the personal computer and millions of poets were born!

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Inactive

My hero. So blatantly stating technology hasn’t travelled as far as we hoped or believe and is unreliable and praise be whatever that nature is reliable and hardly changes. Beautiful uncomplicated and gives far more than a Mac Pro. Loving rifling through the mans work.

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Aydan Lesina

i see this as a comparison how alot of things can differ and change, but all beauty is the same.

Liked: ateSaket

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Emerald Dog

and Bukowski scratches his balls
but only in our dreams
now.

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From guest Tate (contact)
this man is pure genius. its kinda scary that some people dont get this poem.

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From guest jaime333 (contact)
The turkey buzzard is magnificent in flight.
His hens know this but he just can’t help strutting and flouncing and carrying on. Even down here where he looks a damn fool.
Those hens look too good and they do appreciate his efforts.

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more like war

This one just kind of bores me. I like Bukowski’s other work much better.

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Inactive

Hmmm. This poem just goes to show that you CAN write a poem about anything. I wasn’t crazy about this one, but will take it in contezt with all of his other poems. Just another dimension to a very interesting poet.

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metrophobiac

i barely remember these kind of computers for i was so young…like that buk writes about whatever the hells he wants too…

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there now. If only techies would employ a little humor.

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kyew

funny that a lot of the comments left on this piece reflect the message I think buk was trying to get across…

I don’t think he was anywhere near insane

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Kendall Campbell

I’ve only started looking into the works of Bukowski and never thought he’d be a man of electronics. Guess if nothing else, i’ve learned how to put my foot in my mouth.

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Jaden

Yes, and some of those computers cost $2,000 (yes, the ones with TWO floppy drives!) and now, my god, $500 gets you a system light years ahead of those dinasours. . .nice poem.

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Muted Delirium

I can just imagine what he’d write about if he was alive today..

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saddie23

I like this type of writing, which changes into entirely something else, Bukowski is true genius. I’t makes wonder why I haven’t read more of the Oldpoetry poems.I guess I do more reading in the Oldpoetry page. Saddie23

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Molassis

Interesting… haven’t read his work before… I liked the ending of this piece… it had meaning. I guess the first part of the poem is supposed to compare to the ending? I dunno… anyway, I liked the ending. ~Melissa

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Inactive

I was surprised by 2 things. How much I learned about computers and the ending. Good job.

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incipient fire

and ……… venus makes a transit of the sun …….. i see u have run the techno gammit my friend

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Ava Noire

Well this makes me wish I knew more about computers. Though, this was fun to read, I don’t think I’ll be reading too many more like them! lol

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RainbowQueen

You really did make quite a unquie writing here, that I truly enjoyed. Keep up the good work.

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Andrew Hide

ah, the good old days, four hours typing in a programme and then told you have a syntax error..lol

This is an intreaging piece, built line by line on a technical subject, only to be thrown into the eternaty of nature in the last six lines. Clever!

Andrew

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Mystique Fire Vixen tmp tmp

very intresting and creative

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Martooni

Can’t believe I haven’t come across this one before. CB is my ultimate poet hero. Funny thing, though… I’ve owned every single computer he mentions and felt much the same way about early compatibility problems. But then, as Chuck says: “but the wind still blows over / Savannah”

God I wish that old monster was still kicking…

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Inactive

Oh man. This is pure Bukowski. I just love Bukowski’s attitude and his tone. I think I could tell his work without his name attached. A truly distinctive voice. I have always appreciated his perspective. His poetry and his novels are always worth reading, always rntertaining, and often surprising. I am glad to see his work posted here.

Scott