Roll the Dice

Roll The Dice

Charles Bukowski

If you’re going to try, go all the way.

Otherwise, don’t even start.

If you’re going to try, go all the way.

This could mean losing girlfriends,

wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.

Go all the way.

It could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.

It could mean freezing on a park bench.

It could mean jail,

it could mean derision, mockery, isolation.

Isolation is the gift,

all the others are a test of yourendurance,

of how much you really want to do it.

And you’ll do it despite rejection and the worst odds,

and it will be better than anything else you can imagine.

If you’re going to try, go all the way.

There is no other feeling like that.

You will be alone with the gods,

and the nights will flame with fire.

Do it, do it, do it.

Do it.

All the way,

all the way.

You will ride life straight to perfect laughter,

its the only good fight there is.

And I’m doing it.

Enduring the long distance between us.

Facing myself when there’s silence and darkness.

Working while loosing my passion for it.

Living in a city that left me long ago.

Pushing time forward.

Trying to live my dream.

Holding my future close by reading Wilde’s words.

And still smiling.

Because,

I’m doing it!