Tom Waits Reads Bukowski
by Maria PopovaOn finding light in darkness, knowing chances and the ownership of life.
Short and sweet, our 2010 wish to Brain Pickings readers, from the lips of Tom Waits reading “The Laughing Heart” by the great Charles Bukowski.
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
In 2009, we spent more than 200 hours a month bringing you Brain Pickings. That’s over 2,400 hours for the year — the equivalent of 24 feature-length films, 60 music albums or 800 bathroom visits. If you found any joy and inspiration here this year, please consider supporting us with a modest donation — it lets us know we’re doing something right and helps us pay the bills.


























