Tom Waits, a singer whose appearance often resembles someone who forages trash cans for a living, is to publish his first book of poetry.
The Guardian reports Waits is to publish his first book of verse, in collaboration with photographer Michael O'Brien. Hard Ground is described as a portrait of homelessness, combining Waits's words with images of people who "live on the hard ground".
This is a publishing debut for Waits, a songwriter who, after 40 years, dozens of film appearances and about 20 albums, has noticeably avoided committing himself to print. In a 1975 interview, according to TwentyFourBit, he said "poetry is a very dangerous word". "I don't like the stigma that comes with being called a poet," he said.
"So I call what I'm doing an improvisational adventure or an inebriational travelogue."
See - http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/23/tom-waits-first-book-poetry?CMP=twt_fd
Sounds like a dude I'd like to met.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a poet you are a poet though. You gotta own that with pride :)