On the foreword to Sherman’s book you will see that I am talking mostly about myself, which is savage and lets out air and sometimes a little light. Don’t worry about me laying out any bolognas out on the stage. I mostly blast Shapiro in it, in opening, not mentioning name, about using his name to promote another college Eng. teacher, and giving the grand come-on, I found the pages not to be like that at all. This is just part of it. I went over drunk one time and ate with man and wife in their house, the book I speak of with Shapiro foreword, and I told them I didn’t like it, that it shouldn’t have been done, it was bad for Shapiro and it was bad for them. Now I do not argue and I do not take stands but sometimes an idea will come out of me drunk during a drink and I will say it.

You know what he said?

Well, the book never would have gotten printed without it.

That’s what he said. [* * *]

[To Jon and Louise Webb]

June 3, 1963

Well, I got the plaque, it was leaning against the door when I opened it—the bastard didn’t knock, or I was asleep. Anyway, it’s on the wall now, it’s a fine thing and it holds the walls up…“the poet Charles Bukowski.” Sometimes it’s all in the dream-state and I don’t know who Bukowski is. Sometimes I expect somebody to walk out of my bathroom and say, “Give me a smoke, man, I am Charles Bukowski.” Anyhow, something like this which you needn’t have done at all and did do with this beautiful gesture of warmth…this thing on the wall will be mine, and as the years go on—saving I hang around—this plaque will mean more and more to me. [* * *]

Our boy Sherman has a book coming out in which I write a long introduction. It was done sometime back when I was feeling pretty good. I speak more of myself…if I remember…than I do of Sherman. Neeli Cherry was orig. going to bring book out and Sherman asked me if I would do intro. I said I didn’t know and then one day sat down and found myself writing it. I hope they have not cut it because then it would not make sense. [* * *]

[To Ann Bauman]

June 3, 1963

[* * *] If you should ever come down here your problem will be to keep the conversation “dull.” I am an old wolf and after a few beers begin to imagine myself a young bull. I would always rather chance that they go away angry and unloved than unangry and unloved. It is better, of course, for them to leave unangry and loved, but of the other choices, at least I will know that I have tried. [* * *]

The review mentioned here is not listed in Dorbin’s bibliography.