Roll the Dice

 

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.

if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.

you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, its
the only good fight
there is.

“Roll the Dice” by Charles Bukowski is one of the most motivational poems in American History. During the 1950-60s people were headed on the path of being different. Whether that meant listening to different music or growing long hair, each poem is telling the people that if you are going to do something go all the way, or else there is no point in doing it. Being different is something that can not be done if you are not willing to go all the way. Bukowski makes a strong statement by saying “do it, do it, do it. do it.” This is one of the most powerful quotes from the poem, that showed people not to have fear, and to take the risk. Bukowski shows that it is okay to take the risk, and be confident in what you are doing no matter what it is.
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Everyday people make decisions in life that are important. When making decisions, you can only choose one of the options. Bukowski shows that when you make a decision, go all the way, and if you do not, then do not do that. Bukowski says “if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start.” (1-3). Charles Bukowski always got right to the point on what he was trying to say. He wants the reader to know from the beginning that whatever your choice/decision may be, that you need to be prepared for whatever comes with that decision. If you are not prepared or fully committed for what comes ahead, than there is no reason for choosing to go that route, or take that risk.

There are consequences that we face everyday as humans, those consequences come from how and what we do in our lives. Charles Bukowski lived everyday of his life to the fullest, no matter what consequences came with that. Choosing a way to live your life in a certain manner all depends on what you are willing to do to live that way. Bukowski makes sure you know that no matter what way it is, that you live your life to the fullest. There are things that some want and some do not, but whatever it is that you want, go all the way to get that. Bukowski states “it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.it could mean freezing on a park bench.” (10-12). He is showing the reader what it could take to get the thing you want most in life, and never stop trying to achieve it no matter what.