Lonesome cities

by Rod McKuen

Book Overview

February 1969 This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0006BW11E
• ISBN13: 9780394467795
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 111 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

quick service, great book

thanks, this book is wonderful. its old so there is naturally some wear and tear, but all in all its great. and great service too!

Poetry with great imagery that makes the ordinary extraordinary

My first exposure to Rod McKuen was when he appeared on original version of the television game show "Hollywood Squares." That was unimpressive, but it did prompt me to buy one of his books when I encountered it in a used book store. Since that time, I have been a fan of his verse and this book is no exception. McKuen writes with understated emotion, at times almost with deadpan calm. Yet his prose contains great imagery. One of my favorites is on page 65. New Year's Eve The snow this morning perches on the bare branches of trees like cherry blossoms. White confetti picked up by the wind falling on the path below the window dying under footfall the way the old year dies. Prisoner of a hundred Sundays that I never made. Product of the times I had no choice about. I am like the old year dying in the snow. Not to rise again until the ground goes green. This is the best literary description of a winter's day in the Midwest that I have ever read. In his style of understated yet complete imagery, McKuen describes many of the ordinary events of life and makes them more than that. This can be considered the very definition of poetry.

McKuen's Best--'The Outstretched Hand'

My favorite book of love poems by the eclectic talent of Rod McKuen. He's written several poetry books, but this one's the best all because of the poem, 'The Outstretched Hand.' McKuen has done just about everything in life besides being a talented songwriter and entertainer. He's been a Radio D.J., composer, newspaper columnist and now best-selling author. He did the motion picture scores for, 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' & 'Joanna.' He's recorded 35 record albums of his own songs. He has published 'Stanyan Street and other Sorrows' in 1966 and 'Listen to the Warm.' If you want to know about Rod McKuen style this is a good place to start.Here's an excerpt from the book of 'The Outstretched Hand' (for Jay Allen):Each of us was made by Godand some of us grew tall.Others stood out in the windtheir branches bent and fell.Those of us who walk in lightmust help the ones in darkness up.For that's what life is all aboutand love is all there to life.Each of us made by Godbeautiful in His mind's eye.Those of us that turned out sowedshould look across our shoulders onceand help the weak ones to their feet.It only takes an outstretched hand.

Excellent Collection of Poems

Lonesome Cities runs the whole gambit of love poems, from elated to lost and then some. This was my introduction to Rod McKuen, and what an introduction it was.