In 2008, Tom Waits read the poem “The Laughing Heart”, by Charles Bukowski (August 16, 1920 - March 9, 1994).
It feels to me as if Waits‘ voice takes Bukowski‘s words and helps them up, like a drunk back on their feet after a hard fall on a damp, dark street.
Then, together they look up, to notice the moon.
”That’s a beauty, yeah..”.
THE LAUGHING HEART
by 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.
Marvelous /mɑːv(ə)ləs/
1. Causing great wonder; extraordinary.
2. Extremely good or pleasing; splendid.
xez