Born into this (Dinosauria, we)

Charles Bukowski's "Born into this (Dinosauria, we)" is a stark and unflinching examination of the human condition, societal decay, and the existential dread that permeates modern life. The poem, which can be interpreted as a song through its rhythmic and lyrical quality, presents a grim tableau of a world in decline, where individuals are born into a pre-existing framework of despair and dysfunction. Bukowski's use of vivid imagery, such as 'chalk faces smile' and 'Mrs. Death laughs,' personifies the inescapable presence of mortality and the macabre humor found in the face of life's absurdities.

The poem delves into the societal structures that contribute to this bleak landscape, critiquing everything from the education system to the justice system, and the economic disparities that leave many disenfranchised. Bukowski's reference to 'supermarket bag boy holds a college degree' highlights the disillusionment with the promise of education leading to better opportunities. The 'carefully mad wars' and 'broken factory windows' symbolize the destructive and futile nature of human endeavors that lead to violence and economic ruin. The poem's tone suggests a sense of entrapment within these systems, leading to a collective sense of hopelessness and dehumanization.

Bukowski's apocalyptic vision crescendos with a portrayal of a future where societal collapse is inevitable, marked by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and the breakdown of civil order. The poem concludes with a chilling silence, a respite from the chaos, yet it is a silence born from total annihilation rather than peace. The final lines, 'The sun still hidden there / Awaiting the next chapter,' imply a cyclical nature to this dystopian reality, suggesting that even after such destruction, the cycle of birth into a flawed world continues.