Poem Analysis - Somebody

Introduction: Raw Desire and Existential Void

Charles Bukowski's "Somebody" is a visceral and unsettling poem that plunges into the depths of raw desire and existential angst. The poem begins with a melancholic tone, quickly escalating into aggressive sexual urgency. This shift in mood from despair to frantic action reflects the speaker's attempt to escape his profound sense of emptiness. The poem’s crude language and shocking imagery serve to highlight the speaker's desperate search for meaning and connection in a world that feels inherently meaningless.

Bukowski's Rejection of Identity: The 'Sad Sads'

Bukowski, known for his gritty realism and portrayal of the underbelly of American life, often explored themes of alienation, addiction, and the search for authenticity. In this poem, the woman's question, "Are you really Charles Bukowski?" triggers a rejection of a fixed identity. He dismisses the name, stating, "Forget that, I do not feel good. I've got the sad sads." This rejection suggests that labels and public personas are irrelevant in the face of overwhelming personal suffering. He isn't interested in being a literary figure; he's consumed by his "sad sads" and the desperate need to escape them.

Desperation for Connection: The Illusion of "Real"

A primary theme is the speaker's desperate search for connection, however fleeting or destructive. The act of sex, in this context, becomes a desperate attempt to feel "real." The lines "rape or the end of the earth, / one more time, / to be there, / anywhere, / real, / yes" convey the speaker's willingness to engage in anything, even violence, to escape his existential void. The repetition of "be there" and the affirmation "real" underscore the urgency and the perceived necessity of this experience. It's not necessarily about the woman, but the need to break free from an internal prison.

Grotesque Imagery and the Search for the Divine

The poem employs vivid and disturbing imagery. The lines "I saw her liver and her quivering intestine. / I saw Christ in there, / jumping to a folk-rock" are particularly striking. This grotesque imagery suggests a loss of innocence and perhaps a cynical view of both the body and the spiritual. The presence of "Christ" amidst the innards, "jumping to a folk-rock," could be interpreted as a satirical commentary on the commercialization and trivialization of religion, or perhaps a twisted way of finding the sacred in the profane. Alternatively, the image could represent a desperate, almost hallucinatory, attempt to find meaning and transcendence within the physical realm. The "long slim legs of heaven" is an attempt to find divinity in physicality.

"Somebody": Fleeting Validation in a Moment of Intimacy

The poem concludes with the line, "I was Charles / Somebody." This is a significant shift. The act, however brutal or fleeting, provides a temporary sense of validation and existence. The capitalized "Somebody" suggests a newfound sense of self, however superficial or short-lived. The cock is a powerful symbol in this scenario, and is emphasized by repetition of the phrase "my cock went in." However, the poem leaves the reader with a lingering question: Is this sense of "Somebody" genuine, or is it merely a temporary delusion fueled by desperation? Does this act bring him any closer to true connection, or does it reinforce his isolation?

Conclusion: A Bleak Portrait of Existential Anguish

"Somebody" is a bleak and unsettling poem that offers a raw glimpse into the depths of human desperation. Through its crude language, shocking imagery, and exploration of themes such as the search for connection and the rejection of identity, the poem paints a portrait of existential anguish. The speaker's fleeting moment of validation, achieved through a potentially violent act, raises profound questions about the nature of identity, connection, and the human capacity for both destruction and the yearning for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. The poem ultimately leaves the reader pondering the cost of such fleeting moments of validation and the long-term impact on the speaker's fractured sense of self.