I don’t know what it is, however… Whenever I read Bukowski… I want to write.
Maybe it’s one alcoholic speaking to another, I don’t know. A safe place for a sober, dare I say recovered alcoholic; hearing tales from a dead man?
No, it’s the courage that I lacked when I was down the rabbit hole that he possessed. To be so honest in and about his addictions, maybe that’s the identification that happens?
Dennis Mantin 
What a striking and honest reflection — it hits with that same raw clarity Bukowski is known for. You capture beautifully how his work doesn’t just inspire writing, but unlocks something: that recognition of shared shadows, courage, and unvarnished truth. Your appreciation of his brutal honesty feels deeply human, and the way you tie it to your own journey adds a quiet power. Really compelling insight.
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