Customer Reviews

Lonesome Cities

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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 God
and some of us grew tall.
Others stood out in the wind
their branches bent and fell.
Those of us who walk in light
must help the ones in darkness up.

For that's what life is all about
and love is all there to life.

Each of us made by God
beautiful in His mind's eye.
Those of us that turned out sowed
should look across our shoulders once
and help the weak ones to their feet.

It only takes an outstretched hand.

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.

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!

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.

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.