Photocopy of single page typed poem. 28x22 cm (11x8½"), no. 5 of 10 numbered and initialed copies.

One of only ten photocopies of what is known to be Bukowski's last poem, written and sent to John Martin of Black Sparrow Press on Feb. 18, 1994 via Bukowski's newly installed fax machine, just 18 days before the poet's death by leukemia. Martin made nine copies of the fax, for a total of ten. He hand numbered and initialed them, and gave them to Bukowski collectors and friends of Black Sparrow Press. The poem has not been otherwise published or collected in book form.  The poem, titled #1, reads:  "oh, forgive me For Whom the Bell Tolls, | oh forgive me Man who walked on water, | oh, forgive me little old woman who lived in a shoe, | oh, forgive me the mountain that roared at midnight, | oh, forgive me the dumb sounds of night and day and death, | oh, forgive me the death of the last beautiful panther, | oh, forgive me all the sunken ships and defeated armies, | this is my first FAX POEM. | it's too late: | I have been | smitten."  The poem is numbered and initialed by John Martin in black ink at the bottom of the page. A truly rare piece.