Drinking before noon with Bukowski

It was one of the few days I had
went to the bar to drink before noon.
Ah, the hell with it I thought.
I'm a single mom and they're both
in school.

I eyed an older fellow taking shots
of whiskey; while a tuna sandwich
sat next to him, untouched.
I smiled; he looked away.
I thought to myself, I can't even pick
up an alcoholic man! What the hell is
wrong with me?

So I ordered another drink
and slammed it down.
Wondering how I was going to pay my rent,
where could I find another job?
A downward spiral elliptical in motion;
never ending depression.

But the older man got up put his drink down.
Walked over and sat down beside me.
Told the bartender, 2 more of what
she's having.
He started to talk;
About how he was a writer,
Explaining to me the ins and outs of American employment
and how to avoid the army.
Said he was a hard drinking, lewd bully.

I didn't much take to his conversation
at this point; I looked away.
He told me I had a great pair of legs
as his hand slid up to my knee.
I stopped him there.
"You're a dirty old man!"
He took a hit of his cigarette and asked
me what I did for a living.

"I'm an actress, well I want to be one any way."
He looked at me and told me I'd never
make it.
Got up and walked away.
I yelled "What's your name?"
He said,
"I like bad liquor and bad women,
you can call me Buk"