{"product_id":"how-chet-baker-died-poems-9781644211540","title":"How Chet Baker Died: Poems","description":"\u003cb\u003ePoems from the acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eRoy's World\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWild at Heart\u003c\/i\u003e, and many other works\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe first words in Barry Gifford's new poetry collection say it all--\"Here I am wasting time again \/ writing poems to keep myself company\" -- doing what he has ever done, surprising his readers in kaleidoscopic prisms of color, turning every breath into a story, and himself into his most colorful character. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eShe stood and walked across the lawn\u003cbr\u003epast the cottage and into the big house.\u003cbr\u003eHe stayed to watch the last of the sunset, \u003cbr\u003ewaiting for the flash of green.\u003cbr\u003eWhen it was finally dark and there was\u003cbr\u003eno moon and the fireflies appeared, \u003cbr\u003ehe got up and began walking toward the house.\u003cbr\u003eHe loved the Italian word for firefly, \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003elucciola\u003c\/i\u003e. She was like that, flickering\u003cbr\u003eon and off from moment to moment.\u003cbr\u003eAs he approached the house, he could hear\u003cbr\u003eher singing: \u003ci\u003eVogliatemi bene, un bene \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003epiccolino\u003c\/i\u003e. It's so strange, he thought, \u003cbr\u003elife's so fast and time's too slow.\u003cbr\u003eHe stopped and watched the fireflies. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOr this: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn my dream someone asked me if\u003cbr\u003eI remembered Frank Jackson\u003cbr\u003eHearing this name brought tears\u003cbr\u003eto my eyes though I've never\u003cbr\u003eknown anyone by that name \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe mystery in these poems lives just beyond the province of words. In a strange way, Barry Gifford's poems tell a wordless story, freed of the writer's art. \"It's dangerous to remember \/ so much, especially for a writer \/ The temptation to make sense \/ of it is always there \/ where you and I \/ are no longer.\" Daily life, family and friends, are much more important here than books. The beauty and elusiveness of women and music are of utmost importance, far more so than literature. As he attests: \"I prefer music to poems, words don't\u003cbr\u003elive the same way--so, listen.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Barry Gifford\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Seven Stories Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/12\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 112\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.58lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.31h x 5.81w x 0.56d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781644211540","brand":"Seven Stories Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43014815580297,"sku":"9781644211540","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_4cfe0c7c-a310-42f7-a263-22e2b505f98a.jpg?v=1727762156","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/how-chet-baker-died-poems-9781644211540","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}