Come to Me in Silence

by Rod McKuen

Come to Me in Silence

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Rod McKuen (born April 29, 1933) was a bestselling American poet, composer, and singer, instrumental in the revitalization of popular poetry that took place in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Born Rodney Marvin McKuen in Oakland, California, McKuen ran away from home at the age of eleven to escape an alcoholic stepfather and to send what money he could to his mother. After a series of jobs, from logger, ranch hand, railroad worker to rodeo cowboy, throughout the west, McKuen began in the 1950s to excite audiences with his poetry readings, appearing with such well-known poets as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg; during this time, he often used the pseudonym "Dor".

McKuen moved to New York City in 1959 to compose and conduct for the TV show The CBS Workshop. By the 1960s he had achieved fame, far surpassing in sales the works of the Beat poets who preceded him. During the early 1960s he spent most of his time in France. This began his project to translate the work of legendary singer/songwriter Jacques Brel, into English. After Brel died he said, "As friends and as musical collaborators we had traveled, toured and written - together and apart - the events of our lives as if they were songs, and I guess they were. When news of Jacques’ death came I stayed locked in my bedroom and drank for a week. That kind of self pity was something he wouldn’t have approved of, but all I could do was replay our songs (our children) and ruminate over our unfinished life together."[1]

He became an icon across college campuses for his ability to capture in verse the feelings of anxiety, love, confusion, and hope that were common during the Vietnam era. His public readings had the drawing power of a rock concert.

McKuen's commercial success is unparalleled in the field of modern poetry. His poetic works have been translated into a dozen languages and sold over 65 million copies. Throughout his career he has continued to enjoy sell-out concerts around the world and appears regularly at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.

Edward Habib's liner notes for McKuen's Amsterdam Concert album make the often-repeated claim that Rod McKuen is the best-selling and most widely read poet of all time. This claim is probably rooted in the fact that McKuen's works -- unlike those of Shakespeare or Dante Alighieri -- are copyrighted, and his total sales can be more readily quantified.

As a songwriter, he contributed to the sale of over 100 million records. His material has been recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra (who in 1969 recorded A Man Alone, an album of McKuen's songs), Johnny Cash who (just before his death) recorded McKuen's "Love's Been Good To Me", Waylon Jennings, The London Philharmonic, Greta Keller, Perry Como, and Madonna. Perhaps his most well-known song is "Jean", recorded by Oliver in 1969 for the soundtrack to the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. In 1959, McKuen released a novelty single on the Brunswick label called "The Mummy". Bob Mcfadden and Dor was listed as the artist.. In 1961, he had a hit single titled "Oliver Twist".. McKuen has proven to be a prolific songwriter, penning over 1500 songs. He collaborated with a variety of internationally renowned composers, including Henry Mancini and John Williams, and a highly successful series of albums with Anita Kerr. His symphonies, concertos, and other classical works have been performed by orchestras around the globe. His work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations.

Throughout his multi-award-winning career, McKuen paired his artistic endeavors with a spirit for social reform. Before a tour of South Africa in the 1970s, McKuen demanded “mixed seating” among white and black concert-goers, opening the doors for successful tours by a variety of African-American performers, including Sammy Davis, Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald. He also spearheaded efforts to raise AIDS awareness and fund charities for children and senior

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls]

Sorry, Rod. Whenever we make love, I cannot help but yelp, bray, howl, and pant-hoot in ecstasies unknown.

Our first time: AAAAOOOOOWWWWW!
Second: Love’s been GOOOOD to MEEEEE!!!
Third: Yesyesyesyesyes. Nonononono! PerhaAAAAAAAPS!
Fourth: Ayeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeeeee!
Fifth: Oh Rod! You are so profound about the human coommmmmming-dition!
Sixth: My bearded bard, my bearded bard, oh, love me bearded BAAAAARD!
Seventh: Let’s go inside, it’s freezing in this snoooOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHwwww!!

I will try harder to please you, my love.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with poetry when i was in college.
Browsing the bookshelves one day, I found an old copy of one of Rod McKuens books.

He writes things so simply yet paints a heartwrenching picture.
Some of his writing is laid down like a journal....
describing a trip hes taken, the women hes been with, things hes seen and thought.

He writes in a way that i can relate to.
If you havent read anything by him yet, I suggest you do.
You are missing out on some beautiful writing!

[Tristan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was singularly unimpressed by this book. I thought the poetry was dull and unpoetic and the content was rather pointless. The first section was the best, as it tells of him and six of his friends from young-adulthood and how their lives turned out, but even that I thought fell flat due to the weak poetry of this book. I will not be reading any more of Mr. McKuen's work.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not as impressed with this book as I was with With Love. The poems didn't speak to me as much. Regardless of that, they are still beautifully written and mostly enchanting.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note Review from 2011:

I was at a wedding this past summer, where the bride was a librarian, and as table markers they had books, wrapped in brown paper and decorated with the colors of the wedding. This was the book on my table. It was a book of poetry. I had never heard of McKeun and ended up reading the book through dinner and the speeches. I was later to learn that he had written over 30 books, and almost a hundred albums. He was born in 1933 and though still alive at the writing of this review in 2011, he has not actively produced any new works since 1983.

Rod Mckuen is known as an iconic American poet, composer, singer and songwriter. He reached his peak of popularity in the 60's yet still has a devoted following today. He produced albums of music, spoken word, soundtracks for movies and more. He also brought foreign artists' works to North American Culture through translation and promotion. McKeun had two Oscar nominations and one Pulitzer nomination for his compositions.

Though I enjoy the occasional book of poetry, I am not a poetry critic; I can only state what I like and enjoy. This book falls into both categories. It followed themes that are prevalent in McKuen's works: love, the world and spirituality. It was a pleasant read, and one I would read again. And it was good enough that I am trying to track down some of his other works. And that is really the highest recommendation I can give to a book. It leaves me wanting to read more from the author or with plans to reread the same book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book of poetry, and Rod McKuen is new to me (I know he was popular in the 60’s and 70’s, but I’m a child of the 80’s). It’s absolutely fine. Not overly impressive, not memorable. There’s a few good poems in here, namely New Directions, Vacant Lot and Children of the Sun. The last poem, A Fist Full of Snow, is also worth a read. For most of the collection, McKuen waxes on about his lost youth, friends who have since passed, and Sundays wasted.
I know this is one of his later collections, and I would probably be better off reading something earlier in his career. I’d be willing to give it a try, but not anytime soon.

[Sloan Dzurko · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.
I really wanted to like this. really. but the copy I'm reading has literally ONE STANZA per page, and I can't be bothered to flip through free verse from the 70s for this. I didn't find his words particularly compelling, and I'm realizing that my general distaste for simple poetry might make me sound like a pompous ass, but I don't think I really care. maybe I'll come back to this collection in a few years or whatever and like it. but I kind of doubt it.

[Kimberly Ahumada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly had helped me come to a realization. I cried while reading this and I’m glad I did. Beautiful book.

[George Facas]

Excellent

[S꩜phie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sundays in Colorado

[Cassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of his books spoke to me, but the one that spoke the most was this. After all, if you do not understand my silence, you will not understand my words.