Anyone care to take a stab at this Bukowski poem, with a focus on the last two l

Question: Anyone care to take a stab at this Bukowski poem, with a focus on the last two lines!?

A Challenge To The Dark
by Charles Bukowski

shot in the eye
shot in the brain
shot in the asss
shot like a flower in the dance

amazing how death wins hands down
amazing how much credence is given to idiot forms of life

amazing how laughter has been drowned out
amazing how viciousness is such a constant

I must soon declare my own war on their war
I must hold to my last piece of ground
I must protect the small space I have made that has allowed me life

my life not their death
my death not their death!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I've never seen this one before!. You've just converted me to a Bukowski fan!.

The last two lines are a request for us to honor his lines of demarcation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This Buckowski is so susceptible to the outer world, particularly people!.
I think he talks about greed, that knows no limitation, intruding his privacy and to mingle with his thoughts, believes, and visions which they think of as threats to their very existence!.
In this poem he is pinpointing their perverted vision of the world and of his own small confined space, in the last two lines!.

An awesome poem! Thanks for sharing, Sir!Www@QuestionHome@Com

"My life, not their death"!.!.!.!.refers back to the line!.!.!."I may soon declare my war on their war"!.!.!.Bukowski may be saying he is going to make life changing decisions that will effect his life, yet not bring about "their" death!.

"My death, not their death" sums up the entire poem and how he feels personally responsible for the actions of his life!. For those actions Bukowski will be remembered in death!.!.!.!.he would not be remembered in the same manner for actions bringing about "their" death!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

His CHALLENGE to the dark

Horrid world
death comes
despair reigns

laughter & joy resign
I shall not give in to the dark
I shall seek solace within myself

my private space
Betrayals, violence, lack of joy, viciousness
I single-handedly cannot abide!.

Thus, it's me, myself, and I!.
My life, my death
Their life, their death
shall mark the separation spot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

He sees and hears the whole picture, of double standards, and double messages from every where, that do not cease, and the cover ups of making light of what is dragging us down, His war is to be true himself
regardless of all others, no matter what it takes, and not go to their level, he must rise above it all, in the end that is what is important!.
so he must keep going look to himself, "success of self, not revenge"
a within!. "Live and let live" the best he can!. so they don't kill him within!.
Hopefully he will have the last laugh!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It feels like!.!.the speaker is talking about how others troubles!.!.!.(the woe's of the world!?) !.!.!.!.have overtaken the speakers thoughts and life and become the focus of his existence, and he is losing sight of what should be important, mainly!.!.!.self!. The speakers space has become too overloaded with concerns for these other things and so vows to !.!.!.reclaim that self/space!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Life is a journey!. It has a beginning--we've all done that!. Inevitably it has an end!. We have not done that yet, and hopefully will not do that soon!.

What we do to fill the space between the beginning and the end is up to us!. We can affect--if not control--the quality of our lives!. I have spent a lifetime learning that!.

If I can share that with anyone, my living has been worth something more than taking up a little space in a national cemetery a few long decades from now!.

Live! Enjoy! Ask no quarter and give none!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It strikes me as curious the way we look at death and life!. When someone close to you dies you are tossed into the role of griever!. But in the next sentence you are supposed to shake it off and get over it!. Get on with your life!. And when we die suddenly we are elevated to superhero!. Don't speak ill of the dead!. All wrongs disappear!. Never mind how you lived your life you are dead now so it doesn't count!.
We spend millions putting people on death row only to spend millions trying to get then a reprieve!?!? As a people we are very confused!. I own my life and I will own my death!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

a declaration for the trolls in real life :
life allotted me a small space that i must protect from their [transposed] perception of what is life/alive and what is death/dead!.
when trails are different!.!. collisions apt to take place!.

me likes his simple wording on critical issues of life!.ty!. mr!. buk!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

My stab in the dark is thus:
It makes me think of someone who is tired of allowing outside forces dictate his life, who is tired of living up to others opinions, judgments and expectations and ready to become more inwardly directed, screw the consequences!.

maWww@QuestionHome@Com

Imagine Bush reading aloud this Bukowski piece several months from now, after returning to drink, attempting to pronounce "viciousness!."
A random pull from his Presidential Library!.!.!."Hey! Who snuck this one in here!?!"
Way to go, Buk!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think that also!. It is MY life that matters and not revenge or their death and when I am angry or hold a grudge it hurts only me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

War is a constant!.
death prevails, always!.
I know I must fight and
I know I must die
But the terms
are negotiable

!.!.!.I hope!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

To learn from their mistakes, not to repeat them and then live life so that your death is not just a repeat of theirs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Read a paper, watch the news, and you will see grandiose coverings of certain peoples death!. What about my life, death!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

I will stab it with my steely knife but I still can't kill the beast!. But my insurance will cover it all!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I agree!. Mr!. Bukowski, you are a major influence here!. I guess I'm asking for an autographed copy of your book!. To Life!Www@QuestionHome@Com

not crazy about the anaphora used in this poem, it has a poignant concept, but feels way too much like prose for me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This is very true about death and life!. I like this one!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

their life not mine
their life not death

my death!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.

Ahhhh!.!.!.!. f*** it!. I need a beer!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

don't tell me how to live or die
go away and leave me alone
pffftWww@QuestionHome@Com

Let me enjoy my proper death, so bug off!.Www@QuestionHome@Com