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How should I interpret the end? Does he mean 'yr boy' literally, as in 'your slave'? >To not to have entirely wasted one's life seems to be a worthy accomplish
by southerndrift 7y ago
How should I interpret the end? Does he mean 'yr boy' literally, as in 'your slave'?
>To not to have entirely wasted one's life seems to be a worthy accomplishment, if only for myself.
>yr boy,
>Hank
Is Bukowski acknowledging that he has exchanged working for a boss to writing for Martin? Does this change the message of the letter to the point that he actually doesn't see his life as an accomplishment?
- Wh1zz 7y agoYou're reading too much into it - it's just a funny/relaxed/informal way of signing off.
- lioeters 7y agoFor what it's worth, I interpreted that ending as showing fondness, familiarity, friendship, gratitude. I thought "yr boy" could mean that the publisher was an older father figure. Just checked, John Martin was born in 1930, Bukowski in 1920. So that theory is out. "Boy" doesn't always have a racial undertone in American culture - it's commonly used as a familiar term, among good buddies.