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218th out of 977 books
—
1,011 voters
Wilderness: The Lost Writings, Vol. 1
by
Jim Morrison
Compiled from the literary estate of the singer who brought a wildly lyrical poetry of the damned to the world of rock 'n' roll. Includes unpublished poems, drawings, photos, and a candid self-interview.
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
December 17th 1989
by Vintage
(first published 1988)
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Nov 15, 2011
Christine
added it
Like The American Night: The Writings of Jim Morrison Volume 2, Wilderness provides readers with the inspiring, albeit often confusing, hallucinatory poetry of Morrison. The rhythm of the pieces often themselves intoxicating, one can almost feel as if the phonemic structure of Morrison's work has an underlying pattern that the average person just cannot quite articulate. For aspiring poets, this collection of poems is an extraordinary example of the affects of sound on poetry and how important i...more
Im' a huge fan of The Doors. A huge fan of Jim Morrison. I find him fascinating. The book of poetry is interesting and beautiful and nonsensical at times. Some I skimmed over because I didn't follow them. Some made no sense to me and I read them over again because I enjoyed his words anyway. Some painted a vivid picture for me and I read them over and over again. Every poem and essay will mean nothing to someone, while at the same time, mean everything to someone else. I highly recommend reading...more
Nov 15, 2009
Brandon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of Jim Morrison and the music of the Doors
Shelves:
own
I have been a fan of the Doors since watching Oliver Stone's biopic and I've since been intrigued by the persona of Jim Morrison. While Stone's film and other critics often view Morrison as a drunken buffoon, I could see there was more to him. I've read a handful of biographies and it has only helped increase my awe and respect of the 60's music icon. The man was a genius and had great appreciation for art, hoping to segue his music career into that as a writer/poet/filmmaker. Wilderness is the...more
I guess I'm a biased reviewer here. I am a passionate Doors fan. If you're a casual Doors listener, you'll find Morrison's writing rough sledding. But if you're like me, you'll love this collection of previously unpublished poems and ephemera.
Perhaps Jim wasn't the most polished poet in the world. His work often smacks of the high school English star drunk on words. But he's got some wonderful imagery in here, and seems to be aware of the wonderful SOUND words can make when they're played off ea...more
Perhaps Jim wasn't the most polished poet in the world. His work often smacks of the high school English star drunk on words. But he's got some wonderful imagery in here, and seems to be aware of the wonderful SOUND words can make when they're played off ea...more
A collection of simple-but-enigmatic phrasings that could loosely be called poetry made more interesting due to the writer's fame. Best read by Doors fans, especially if they're still young (or young at heart and mind) and still open to basic couplets and such about the various facets of love/lust and elementary existentialism. I rate Morrison's work the way I do John Lennon's famous doodles: technically they're borderline atrocious to fair, it's their creator that makes them so intriguing.
Jim Morrison changed my life in college. Ironically, he was dead at the time, but it's true. I love so many of the poems in this volume but one stands out right now, after I've experienced fall and am experiencing winter for the first time in years:
A man rakes leaves into
a heap in his yard, a pile,
& leans on his rake &
burns them utterly.
The fragrance fills the forest
children pause & heed the
smell, which will become
nostalgia in several years
A man rakes leaves into
a heap in his yard, a pile,
& leans on his rake &
burns them utterly.
The fragrance fills the forest
children pause & heed the
smell, which will become
nostalgia in several years
I know Jim Morrison has a bad rap, and I won't deny that I have some strange fixation with him. This book of poetry is actually better than the two he published; maybe because he wasn't there to over-think the selection process?
The relatives who selected these poems, however, don't seem to read poetry. Some of it just doesn't strike me as even relatively poetic, just hippie shopping lists of sorts.
However, if you sift through the duller or even silly poems, you find a few gems. These are the ki...more
The relatives who selected these poems, however, don't seem to read poetry. Some of it just doesn't strike me as even relatively poetic, just hippie shopping lists of sorts.
However, if you sift through the duller or even silly poems, you find a few gems. These are the ki...more
Some really nice stuff in here for Doors fans. I want to say I'm "bad" at reading poetry, but I enjoyed a great deal of this. Morrison seemed to work best when he wrote small <10 line pieces like my favorite:
"Where'd you learn about
Satan - out of a book
Love? - out of a box"
Highly recommended for Doors fans or if you just love Morrison's brooding artistic mystique (like me).
"Where'd you learn about
Satan - out of a book
Love? - out of a box"
Highly recommended for Doors fans or if you just love Morrison's brooding artistic mystique (like me).
It is safe to say that Jim Morrison is not for everyone. I am always genuinely creeped out when I read his work. Since I am such a big fan of the horror genre, you might think this doesn't bother me but it does. A book by Morrison does not stay in my house for long. That is not to say I don't admire his work.
Wilderness brings an understanding of his poetic mind.
Wilderness brings an understanding of his poetic mind.
I suppose if I died today and some bunch of jackasses published my notebooks full of unpolished, rambling or snippets poetry, I'd be embarrassed as hell, but I'd hope they would have the profound affect on someone that these did on me. Obsessed as a teen, I am still haunted today by his words, and he probably influenced my writing style more than any other poet.
While flipping though the pages of Wilderness at a local book store, I found these lines:
“I am troubled, immeasurably
by your eyes.
I am struck by the feather
of your soft reply.
The sound of glass
speaks quick, disdain
and conceals
what your eyes fight
to explain.”
Morrison is an amazing poet, a legend, a rascal, a prophet.
“I am troubled, immeasurably
by your eyes.
I am struck by the feather
of your soft reply.
The sound of glass
speaks quick, disdain
and conceals
what your eyes fight
to explain.”
Morrison is an amazing poet, a legend, a rascal, a prophet.
I was in love with Jim when I was a teenager (don't ask me why). Anyway, I loved this book back then and read it often.
Now, when I read it, it makes me sad, for I think how much better his poems would have been if he were sober.
Now, when I read it, it makes me sad, for I think how much better his poems would have been if he were sober.
Delving into the mind of a person or presence like that of Jim Morrison is a privilege. I only wish more artists/writers would be so bold as to do the same. This is one of my personal favorites....
I am troubled
Immeasurably
By your eyes
I am struck
By the feather
Of your soft
Reply
The sound of glass
Speaks quick
Disdain
And conceals
What your eyes fight
To explain
I am troubled
Immeasurably
By your eyes
I am struck
By the feather
Of your soft
Reply
The sound of glass
Speaks quick
Disdain
And conceals
What your eyes fight
To explain
Jim Morrison was an okay poet, but not deeply moving, in my opinion. Poets like Rimbaud, Ferlinghetti, and Blake, for instance, speak to me; Morrison's poems set to music are, to me, more powerful than the writings contained in this book.
Read this some time ago and just remembered. The poem I remember the most was called Power. Struck a chord with me. Not a bad collection of poetry and if you are die hard Morrison fan it is a must have
I was looking through Amazon.com's poetry bestsellers list and came across this book. I read it in high school. Sad to see people are still buying it.
One of the poetry books of Jim Morrison I read while a senior in high school. Loved the book so much! It inspired me to read other books on poetry.
Totally beautiful and nonlinear. Jim's poems are both definite and indefinite at the same time. Wilderness is whatever you want it to be!
I was honestly surprised by how good some of his poetry is. The rating is for the good poems; a lot of stuff in this volume is throwaway.
I really did think It was gorgeously written. The prologue is probably my favorite part. The idea of self interview fascinates me.
Jim Morrison must be the worst "poet" ever. This is so bad it's almost good. Don't do drugs, kids...
Considering how very much I admire his song lyrics, the poems were a bit of a disappointment.
Some of the poems are very moving. The other ones are just really beautiful. A favorite.
Sep 14, 2011
Joseph1
added it
GREAT, IF YOU LIKE THE DEAD PETS SOCIETY, ..THIS WAS A DARKER SIDE OF HIS WRITING BUT WELL WRITTEN
What a beautiful specimen. Such beautifully- written words and sentences. Truly an amazing poet.
these poems rock my soul and shatter the linear bounds of my fragile eggshell mind.
He is a tough read. I read this decades ago and I recall is ramblings.
Like The American Night: The Writings of Jim Morrison Volume 2, Wilderness provides readers with the inspiring, albeit often confusing, hallucinatory poetry of Morrison. The rhythm of the pieces often themselves intoxicating, one can almost feel as if the phonemic structure of Morrison's work has an underlying pattern that the average person just cannot quite articulate. For aspiring poets, this collection of poems is an extraordinary example of the affects of sound on poetry and how important i...more
Think what you will - the guy wrote some lovely poetry.
Morrison makes me want to copulate with the dangerous
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James Douglas Morrison was an American singer, poet, songwriter, writer, and film director. He is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors, and is widely considered to be one of the most charismatic and influential frontmen in rock music. He was also the author of several books of poetry and the director of a documentary and short film.
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“I am troubled, immeasurably
by your eyes.
I am struck by the feather
of your soft reply.
The sound of glass
speaks quick, disdain
and conceals
what your eyes fight
to explain.”
—
128 people liked it
by your eyes.
I am struck by the feather
of your soft reply.
The sound of glass
speaks quick, disdain
and conceals
what your eyes fight
to explain.”
“The Night is young
& full of rest
I can’t describe
the way she’s dress’d
She’ll pander to some strange
requests
Anything that you suggest
Anything to please her guest.”
—
42 people liked it
More quotes…
& full of rest
I can’t describe
the way she’s dress’d
She’ll pander to some strange
requests
Anything that you suggest
Anything to please her guest.”
