Poem Analysis - This Then

Introduction: A Cycle of Disillusionment

Charles Bukowski's "This Then" is a stark and cynical poem that explores the cyclical nature of relationships and the disillusionment that comes with age and experience. The poem conveys a sense of weary resignation, reflecting on past encounters with love and sex, ultimately concluding with a hope for something better – or at least different – in death. The tone is initially blunt and almost aggressive, but it gradually shifts to a more melancholic and introspective mood as the speaker reflects on his present state.

Love, Sex, and Inevitable Trouble: The Core Themes

One of the central themes is the complex relationship between love and sex. The poem presents them as intertwined yet ultimately sources of "trouble." The speaker seems to have sought comfort and connection through both, but the bluntness of "here's a cock / and here's a cunt / and here's trouble" suggests a transactional and ultimately unsatisfying experience. Another prominent theme is the acceptance of limited expectations. The speaker acknowledges a past desire for "it all" (presumably a grand, all-encompassing love) but now settles for "some comfort / and some sex / and only a minor / love." This suggests a compromise born of repeated disappointment. Finally, the poem grapples with the theme of isolation. The speaker is "waiting again," alone with his radio in a yellow-walled kitchen, suggesting a life of monotonous routine and loneliness.

Yellow Walls and Empty Bottles: Symbols of Decay

Several recurring images contribute to the poem's overall message. The "cock" and "cunt" are blunt symbols of sexual encounters, stripped of any romanticism. The "yellow" kitchen walls evoke a sense of age, decay, and perhaps even sickness, reflecting the speaker's jaded outlook. The "bottles" are a tangible symbol of the speaker's coping mechanism, an attempt to numb the pain of loneliness and disappointment. The act of "dumping bottles" also implies a futile effort to empty himself of the past, a cleansing that never quite succeeds.

The Fading Years and the Footsteps of Hope and Fear

The phrase "the years run thin" is a powerful image representing the passage of time and the speaker's diminishing hopes. It conveys a sense of life slipping away, leaving behind only regret and disillusionment. The "footsteps" the speaker listens for are ambiguous; they could represent the arrival of a new lover, a sign of connection, or perhaps even the approach of death itself. This ambiguity highlights the speaker's uncertainty and the thin line between hope and fear in his current state.

Concluding Thoughts: A Hope for Less

"This Then" is a poignant exploration of the disillusionment that can arise from repeated failures in love and the acceptance of a diminished existence. Bukowski's blunt language and stark imagery create a raw and honest portrayal of a man grappling with loneliness, regret, and the fading hope for something more. Ultimately, the poem's significance lies in its unflinching depiction of the human condition, where even the hope for death is tinged with a cynical expectation of disappointment, a hope "that death contains / less than this."