through thick and thin, sharing dark patches (places that scare us)

Mr. and Mrs. Bukowski

Published: December 16, 2007

To the New York Times Editor:

I was thrilled by Jim Harrison’s review of my husband’s “Pleasures of the Damned” (Nov. 25) and by his caring and insightful examination of this brilliant compilation and the amazingly prolific, often unexpected journey on which it most assuredly will take its readers. Thank you for giving Hank the kind of accolade that he has long deserved, and for taking him seriously as a writer who was never afraid to go to the places that scare us, and whose intellect and particular genius were constantly colliding with his pungent and earthy emotional sensualism.

There is one line, however, that was not accurate and brought tears and sadness for me. You say that “he had several failed marriages — but then historically, poets are better off with imaginary lovers.” My husband did not have several marriages. He had two. The first did fail. The second, our marriage, did not fail. We were together for 18 years, until his last quiet, precious breath. We loved each other through thick and thin. We evolved and involved. We shared dark patches but were always able to throw open the doors and windows to the sunlight in our hearts and carry on. I am quite certain you had no intention to cause any hurt. Sometimes it just happens, doesn’t it, and for me knowing that thousands of people will read this is personally very painful and humiliating to me. He was and is and always will be the love of my life.

Linda Lee Bukowski
San Pedro, Calif.