The Laughing Heart

"The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski. When I first read the title, I thought that the poem was going to be about happiness in oneself. It was only after I read the poem that I realize its true meaning. When our heartbeat race it mimics the way we laugh, quick and with rhythm, with that in mind, the title could be a metaphor for a racing heartbeat. The poem itself was inspiring and motivational. It advises to live a little "dangerously," and when an opportunity arise take it. The poem tries to encourage everyone that if there was even the slightest chance that you can succeed, you should take it, because in the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take.