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How should I interpret the end? Does he mean 'yr boy' literally, as in 'your slave'?

>To not to have entirely wasted one's life seems to be a worthy accomplishment, if only for myself.

>yr boy,

>Hank

Is Bukowski acknowledging that he has exchanged working for a boss to writing for Martin? Does this change the message of the letter to the point that he actually doesn't see his life as an accomplishment?

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For what it's worth, I interpreted that ending as showing fondness, familiarity, friendship, gratitude.

I thought "yr boy" could mean that the publisher was an older father figure. Just checked, John Martin was born in 1930, Bukowski in 1920. So that theory is out.

"Boy" doesn't always have a racial undertone in American culture - it's commonly used as a familiar term, among good buddies.

You're reading too much into it - it's just a funny/relaxed/informal way of signing off.

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