Formalist Criticism: Overview

In what matters most is how well you walk through the fire Bukowski continues his unique stylistic approach to poetry: a sharp, violent, tone and an unwavering courage to say exactly what he means. He rejects overthinking and over-used metaphors in his poetry, choosing instead to write short poems with short lines and simple word choice peppered with vulgarities.  He utilizes concrete objects and events to illustrate a larger meaning.