Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Taken" by Charles Bukowski reflects on the intersection between literary genius and political engagement, pondering why some of the most revered literary figures—Ezra Pound, Louis-Ferdinand Celine, Knut Hamsun, Jean-Paul Sartre, among others—entangled themselves with the realm of politics, often to the detriment of their reputations and legacies. Bukowski muses on the motivations that drove these writers to embrace political ideologies, questioning whether factors such as poor lifestyle choices, boredom, or a misguided sense of responsibility might have influenced their decisions.

Bukowski begins by naming prominent writers who "got mixed up with that whore Politics," immediately personifying politics as a seductive yet destructive force that can corrupt even the most brilliant minds. This introduction sets the tone for a critique not of political engagement per se but of the decision by artists and thinkers to align themselves with political causes that ultimately clash with the values and principles celebrated in their works.

He speculates on the reasons behind their political involvements, humorously suggesting "bad diet? bad liquor? ennui?" as potential culprits. This light-hearted conjecture serves to underscore the perplexity and disappointment Bukowski feels towards these writers' choices. He wonders why they couldn't have contented themselves with simpler pleasures, such as "motored down the coast and stopped off for a simple lunch," instead of assuming roles that detracted from their literary achievements.

The poem expresses a cynical view of political involvement, asserting that "fools run governments, not everyone can guide the world." This statement reflects Bukowski's skepticism about the efficacy of individual action in the political sphere and his belief in the futility of attempting to effect change through such means. He laments the hubris of believing that one can steer the course of history or influence the machinations of power, suggesting that such efforts often render one "more foolish."

Bukowski mourns the loss of potential, the deviation from the pure pursuit of art to the murky waters of political engagement, viewing it as a tragic waste of talent. He questions the trade-off these writers made, exchanging "a gift from the gods for a handful of dung," highlighting the permanent damage done to their legacies by their political affiliations. The image of these "beautiful men self-castrated" evokes a sense of profound loss, suggesting that their entanglement with politics was a form of self-destruction, a rejection of their artistic destinies.

The poem concludes with a poignant reflection on the inevitability of mortality and the transience of fame, implying that these writers retreated "to the dumb dark" before truly realizing the extent of their folly. Bukowski suggests that in their quest for relevance or impact beyond the literary world, they ultimately diminished the brilliance of their own lights.

In "Taken," Bukowski grapples with the complex legacy of writers who ventured into the political arena, offering a meditation on the choices that define us and the delicate balance between artistic integrity and the allure of broader social and political engagement. Through this contemplation, he invites readers to reflect on the value of art as an end in itself, and the dangers of sacrificing one's voice on the altar of political ideologies

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Il_grande/M_nE4jrrCxMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=TAKEN

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