because he had time to reflect

because he had time to think

because the time to rationalize 

was fast coming to an end

as the white cell count of his blood

rose-up to claim its cruel intentions

did

Charles Bukowski see

the great dichotomy

the fool-heartiness of

an immediate decision

to

pose for a snapshot relaxing on his side

one arm elbowed to the ground

the other hand holding two fingers high to the wind

in victory for living at the headstone of

someone else.

dead, now, too.

but this was also the way of Browning and Paz

and the cranky old prick across the street and

Lorca and Glück and luckily, (at least for an instant)

for the plant-eating duck-billed Edmontosaurus,

Tyrannosaurus Rex.