Tag Archives: poetry

December 29, 2011, 1:54 pm

Advice, Please! What’s the Best New Year’s Poem?

Roxanne Coady, owner of one of the world’s best independent bookstores, R.J. Julia’s, and a dynamic, brilliant woman who makes it her personal responsibility to get people reading (www.justtherightbook.com), e-mailed me the following question: “Every year I send out a NY poem—one that’s smart or witty and inspiring without being sappy. After years of having no problem discovering exactly the right piece, I’m having trouble finding one. Any ideas?”

Roxanne is not the kind of woman you want to let down.

I spent part of yesterday morning looking for my favorite New York poems. Yes, I am that much of a genius. That’s why people rely on me. The fact that my friend told me she sent out poems once a year on December 31st did not clue me into the fact that “NY” could represent anything except the Empire State.

I went so far as to send her a link to Mark Doty’s poem “Broadway,” with it…

March 8, 2011, 2:50 pm

Has Charlie Sheen’s Poetry Changed YOUR Life?

By Gina Barreca

Right now Charlie Sheen is the national Rorschach Test: Whether you’re staring in fascination for long periods of time or just catching a glimpse every now and then, you can learn something about yourself from your response.

In case you’ve been in the basement with your head in a book or a pillowcase for the last couple of days, here’s a recent version of the Sheen experience so that you can assess your own CSR (Charlie Sheen Rorschach).

What I just learned is this: Charlie Sheen wrote a book of poetry in 1990 and today, on Amazon, a used hardcover of that volume—titled “A Peace of My Mind—Poetry by Charles Sheen”—is selling for $5,000. The used paperback is selling for $1,250.

You know, I almost feel bad about making fun of Bristol Palin’s memoir.

The idea that somebody would pay 5k for a copy—just a copy—of Charlie Sheen’s self-published poetry makes…