Beer and Poets and Talk Summary

Bukowski and many of his literary friends are discussing the nature of literature today and how their other literary friends are doing. Bukowski believes that many of the greatest poets of the time have died recently, and that no one so far has stepped forward to replace them. Bukowski goes to the bathroom and hears a couple fighting through the wall, climaxing in the sound of the man slapping the woman. Bukowski returns to his friends.

Beer and Poets and Talk Analysis

This story marks a rare occasion in which Bukowski discusses literature voluntarily and without a paycheck. He enjoys gossiping about literary figures, forecasting trends in the coming years, and criticizing some well-regarded poets that he believes are hacks. He nearly forgets the reason that he usually refuses to talk about literature, because life...