This painting has been very much inspired by a poem by Charles Bukowski, called “There’s a bluebird in my heart”. 

I find this poem unspeakably sad ; there’s so much regret in it.
But it’s also kind of hopeful. There’s something moving in there ; it’s not dead yet.

I truly hope you let your bluebird out, to let him sing at the top of his lungs !

There’s a bluebird in my heart (by Charles Bukowski)

There’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see you.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he’s in there.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess me up?
you want to screw up the works?
you want to blow my book sales in Europe?

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
so don’t be sad.

then I put him back,
but he’s singing a little
in there, I haven’t quite let him die
and we sleep together like that
with our secret pact
and it’s nice enough to
make a man weep,
but I don’t weep,
do you?”