POETRY #1

1. "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski
2. The use of this poem is ironic when being used by the corporation Levi's because the essence of the poem is saying "don't let it be clubbed into dank submission." Advertisements are trying specifically to get you to submit and buy their product! The poem also repeats the line "be on the watch." This means that there are ways out of the day to day ordinary life and there are ways to get away from people trying to control your life and make it into something that it's not. The Levi corporation is trying to control an aspect of your life by convincing you to buy their jeans. "your life is your life." as long as you're wearing Levi's is the ironic message that I got from the commercial.
3. I think that the poem accurately reflects the reputation of Bukowski. Bukowski was bullied in school and his work was denied by many publishers. These hardships are reflected in the poem because his writing shows how he was able to overcome those troubles. "it may not be much light but it beats the darkness." Bukowski over came his trials and his poem encourages others to do the same. He struggled with illness and alcoholism and these experiences illustrate how Bukowski was able to "beat death in life" and lines like "your life is your life. know it while you have it." show that Bukowski learned life lessons from his hardships. Bukowski also had a wide range of jobs to support himself during his writing career, "the gods will offer you chances". Bukowski knew how to get through tough times even through hardships.
4. I found the answer to #1 by reading the link that was included in the assignment description. I found the answer to #3 googling Charles Bukowski and reading about him on Poets.org (http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/394) and on Poetry Foundation (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-bukowski)