about the time <br />Linda said i was good, <br />but that i’d never be <br />Bukowski? <br /> <br />Linda was a poet. <br /> <br />one of Bukowski’s <br />girlfriends <br />in the ‘70s. <br /> <br />for a while <br />she edited and published <br />a pretty decent little magazine. <br /> <br />she wrote to me saying <br />that she loved my poems… <br /> <br />actually, it’s been so long now <br />i really don’t remember <br />if she loved them <br />or liked them, <br />but it doesn’t matter… <br /> <br />she said that i was good, <br />but i would never be great… <br /> <br />because i wasn’t <br />mad. <br /> <br />Bukowski (she said) was mad… <br />and he was <br />great. <br /> <br />i wrote back <br />saying that she was right… <br />Bukowski IS mad <br />and Bukowski IS great, <br />but if one of the qualifications <br />for being mad <br />and being great <br />was having to put up with the likes of her, <br />then i’d be more than happy <br />to settle for what i am <br />and what i’m <br />going to be. <br /> <br />that was 30 years ago, <br />and do you know what? <br /> <br />i’m still not mad <br />and i’m still not <br />great… <br /> <br />but, every now and then, <br />when the moon’s just right <br />i’m not <br />half bad.<br /><br />John Yamrus<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/did-i-ever-tell-you-6/
