Analysis (ai): The poem "Alone With Everybody" by Charles Bukowski explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the search for connection. The poem opens with a stark depiction of the human body, reducing it to its basic components of flesh, bone, mind, and potentially a soul. The speaker then depicts men and women engaging in destructive and self-defeating behaviors—breaking vases, drinking excessively, and having casual sexual encounters—in a desperate attempt to find fulfillment.

Despite these efforts, the speaker asserts that true connection is impossible and that all humans are doomed to a solitary and isolated existence. He uses stark imagery of junkyards and graveyards to reinforce this sense of despair and futility. The final line, "nothing else fills," underscores the emptiness and lack of meaning that the speaker finds in life.

In comparison to Bukowski's other works, "Alone With Everybody" is characteristic of his pessimistic and disillusioned outlook on life. It shares similarities with his other poems in its use of blunt and often vulgar language, as well as its exploration of themes of loneliness, addiction, and the search for meaning.

Compared to the time period in which it was written, the poem reflects the disillusionment and alienation felt by many individuals during the post-World War II era. The poem's emphasis on isolation and the futility of human existence aligns with the broader cultural mood of the time.