once
starving in Philadelphia
I had a small room
it was evening going into night
and I stood at my window on the 3rd floor
in the dark and looked down into a
kitchen across the way on the 2nd floor
and I saw a beautiful blonde girl
embrace a young man there and kiss him
with what seemed hunger
and I stood and watched until they broke
away.
then I turned and switched on the room light.
I saw my dresser and my dresser drawers
and my alarm clock on the dresser.
I took my alarm clock
to bed with me and
fucked it until the hands dropped off.
then I went out and walked the streets
until my feet blistered.
when I got back I walked to the window
and looked down and across the way
and the light in their kitchen was
out.
Other works by Charles Bukowski...
