Charles Bukowski's poems rose from the gutters of society, expressing his personal experiences with a dark but often humorous narrative. Despite his distaste for social conformity and the American government, Bukowski is still generally considered an iconic figure in American literature. The emphasis on the values ​​of freedom and independence in his poems constitutes a contradiction with Bukowski's anti-American views: a yellow taxi, I also have shit stains on my underwear and quiet girls and clean in gingham dresses. These poems reinforce Bukowski as a cynical critic of bourgeois society, often targeting women; it would be foolish to blind one's opinion as to whether he was anti-American or not, because such generalizations rarely fit an individual perfectly. The analysis of his life allows us to discover why Charles Bukowski criticizes and mocks conformist societies. Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) was born in post-World War I Germany, but soon after immigrated to America with his German mother and abusive American father (Gel, 2002). Bukowski was isolated as a youth, contracting blood poisoning that caused severe acne, leaving him with permanent facial scars. According to Bukowski, his father beat him severely to relieve his personal depression; this caused him to despise both his father and mother because she never tried to stop the beating. Bukowski was introduced to a lifelong friend, alcohol, in his early adolescence (Frost, 2002). Shunned by his peers because of his appearance and beaten helplessly by his father, these events likely ingrained his autonomy and disdain for conformity in his life as a writer. Bukowski attended college in Los Angeles, but dropped out, leading to a decade-long stint as a drunk driver...... middle of paper...... in a positive way. Isolated throughout his life, Bukowski's work incorporates vulgar humor to recount his miserable and pathetic experiences. Works CitedBukowski, Charles, “I Have Shit Stains on My Underwear Too” Love is a Hellhound / Poems 1974-1977. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 1977. 209. Print.Bukowski, Charles, “clean, quiet girls in gingham dresses…” Love is a Hellhound / Poems 1974-1977. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 1977. 74-75. Print.Bukowski, Charles, “yellow taxi” Love is a dog from hell / Poems 1974-1977. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 1977. 150-151. Print.Frost, Adam, Online biography of literature “Bukowski, Charles”. Cambridge: 2002. Literature Online. Internet. November 30, 2011. “Bukowski, Charles (1920-1994). » Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale World History In Context. Internet. November 30. 2011.