CALAMANSI BLOG #7

MY POETIC SHAPERS: How Bukowski, Milligan, and Dickinson Forged My Voice

by W. J. Manares

There are poets who teach you how to write, and then there are those who teach you why. For me, Charles Bukowski, Spike Milligan, and Emily Dickinson do both. Three voices from vastly different times, places, and lives, yet all bound by a fierce commitment to writing what feels true. One wrote of the streets, one of the stage and psyche, one from a quiet room. But together, they’ve shaped not just the words I put on the page, but how I see the world I write about. Their poetry doesn’t live in textbooks or galleries; it lives in the breath between lines, the laugh that catches in your throat, and the quiet ache that stays with you long after you’ve turned the page. Here’s why their work means so much to me, and how it changed the way I write.

CHARLES BUKOWSKI

I love Bukowski because he stripped poetry bare of pretense. Where others polished lines into gems, he carved his from asphalt and cheap whiskey, writing about loneliness in dive bars, the grind of work, and the raw, unvarnished truth of being human. His words don’t comfort; they acknowledge, and that acknowledgment feels like a hand on your shoulder in the dark.

Bukowski taught me to write what I know, not what I think poetry should be. I used to strain for grand metaphors and elegant phrasing, but Bukowski showed me that a simple line like “the days are tough but the nights are longer” can hit harder than any flowery verse. He gave me permission to be honest about the messy, unglamorous parts of life.

SPIKE MILLIGAN

Milligan’s poetry is a wild dance between laughter and tears, and that’s exactly why I love it. He could make you snort with a silly rhyme about a talking frog, then twist the same stanza to reveal a quiet ache about loss or madness. His work proves that humor and sorrow aren’t opposites; they’re two sides of the same coin we all carry.

He shaped my approach to form and tone more than any other writer. I used to think poetry had to be serious to matter, but Milligan showed me how playfulness can open doors to deeper meaning. Now, I often weave wordplay or absurd imagery into my own poems, using levity as a bridge to help readers connect with heavy themes. He also taught me to embrace imperfection; his work feels alive because it’s human, full of stutters and detours that make it real.

EMILY DICKINSON

Dickinson’s poetry draws me in with its quiet intensity, she could pack entire universes into a handful of lines. I love how she turned ordinary things (a bee, a window, a death knell) into portals to profound questions about life, faith, and connection. Her use of slant rhyme and unconventional punctuation creates a rhythm that feels like thinking itself, hesitant, sharp, and full of surprises.

She changed how I think about language and space. Before discovering her work, I filled every line of my poems, afraid of leaving gaps. Dickinson taught me that silence is as powerful as words, that a dash or a carefully placed pause can let a reader feel something beyond what’s written. She also showed me that intimacy doesn’t require volume; writing from a quiet corner of the world can still reach across centuries.

A drunk from Los Angeles, a madcap from London, and a recluse from Amherst handed me a pen, and said: “Now you try.” I still am, and I suspect I’ll be trying to live up to their messy, beautiful, brilliantly human example for the rest of my days.

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"DON'T TRY"

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NOTE:

Why "Calamansi" Blog?

I chose the name 'Calamansi Blog' because it embodies the essence of what I want my blog to be. The calamansi, that small but vibrant Philippine lime, symbolizes joy and freshness. Just as the fruit adds a burst of flavor to any dish or drink, I want my blog to bring a fresh and uplifting perspective to the readers.

Beyond its Filipino roots, the name also resonates with me on a deeper level. 'Calamansi' bears a phonetic resemblance to the Indian words 'Kalam' (कलम), meaning 'pen' or 'writing,' and 'Anshi' (अंशी), meaning 'god's gift.' This connection suggests that my writing is more than just words on a page; it's a gift, an inspiration, perhaps even divinely guided.

My 'Calamansi Blog' represents a blend of Filipino zest and a sense of inspired creativity. It's a name that is both memorable and meaningful, reflecting my commitment to sharing content that is joyful, refreshing, and purposeful.

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W. J. Manares is the Partner/Distributor of Ukiyoto Publishing via Ukiyoto House, Philippines. He's one of Ukiyoto's prolific authors and a one-of-a-kind writer from Aklan, Philippines, authored more than 69 books and counting, a lesser-known worldbuilder and storyteller, and labelled as "the sardonic yet whimsical author of the Philippines" since 1999. You can contact him via email: wjmanares@ukiyoto.com or via SMS at +639192015217.