Two literary men serve as undeniable influences in my life. The first is poet Charles Bukowski, and the second is writer Harlan Ellison. In times of stress, turmoil, and uncertainty—like the times we face today—I turn to these men for inspiration. They remind me to draw from the wellspring of bile and stubbornness within me, to focus not just on what could be, but, with hard work, on what will be.
Going All the Way
Since Trump’s inauguration, I’ve returned to this poem by Bukowski a dozen times. It captures the resolve we need to navigate these next four years and protect our democracy. If we are to survive intact, we must commit fully. We must go all the way.
This is not an easy ask. It would be simpler to sit back, scroll YouTube, and do nothing. But we’re past “easy” now. The moment calls for more. Now, we must risk derision, jail, hunger—whatever it takes. We must push back, not only against Trump and his enablers but also against those who allowed this to happen—whether they are Republican, Democrat, or simply indifferent.
Roll the Dice by 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 your endurance,
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,
it’s the only good fight
there is.
Bukowski’s poem reminds me that commitment isn’t half-hearted. If I’m going to think, write, and act against Trump’s un-American agenda, I must go all the way. I may be just one voice, but I will use it the best way I can.
The Voice of Harlan Ellison
For inspiration in action, I turn to Harlan Ellison, whose essays have shaped my thinking for decades. His sharp wit, uncompromising tone, and moral clarity continue to resonate with me. In his January 3, 1982, essay from An Edge in My Voice, Ellison writes:
“We are, finally, no better than Richard Nixon, who went to the windows of the White House, saw hundreds of thousands massed in the streets to protest, snickered, and went back to watch the Super Bowl.”
– Harlan Ellison
Ellison’s words opened my mind as a young reader and continue to shape how I think and write. He reminds us that the powerful count on our apathy. They rely on our distraction, our reluctance to make noise, and our unwillingness to act. But if we use our platforms to push back—to think, to speak, to write—our collective voice will carry across the world.
Moving Forward
This is a time for action, not complacency. Bukowski and Ellison remind me that the fight for what’s right often demands sacrifice. But they also remind me that this is the only good fight there is.
More to follow…
Peanuts In My Pocket 
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