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Moment to Moment
A collection of poetry reflecting the author's 1971 trip to Holland and 1974 travels to Mexico
- GenresPoetry
143 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Rod McKuen
136 books93 followersRod 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 19, 2007
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!
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!
November 24, 2022
I relate to his writing so much and found it so simple yet beautiful.
Quotes:
"How right to love you,
across the room across
across the seas
and if need be
all across a lifetime with or without you." p.49
"More and more
I wonder if that distance
always was and has been
as compatible as closeness." p.54
"The truth is
no one listens.
Not to the frogs or the crickets,
not to the baying of hounds
or the barking of dogs,
not even to the radio -
or the radiator's bumping.
People hear all right
but they hear only those things
they themselves have programed
and any chance of getting past
those build-in scramblers
is remote and far removed
if one can even give it that." p.58
"Now I have the time
to see bad movies
and read bad books
aloud to you.
I can now waste time
on you and on myself.
Mid-week picnics.
Minding my temper in traffic.
Washing your back
and cleaning out my closets.
Staying in bed with you
long past the rush hour
and the pangs of hunger.
And listening
to the story of your life
in deadly detail
whatever time it takes,
I have that time." p.61-62
"A phrase of love
can be strung out
in such a way
that hate by contrast
sounds more beautiful." p.67
"Love stings when it should tingle
and leaves long scars
instead of deep impressions.
Worst of all
for love gone wrong
there is no warranty
or bond to cover damage." p.68
"The guarantee
for finding sanity again
is finding love again
and giving over
to the new beloved
that one facet of yourself
you held back last time." p.69
"I've been waiting all this time
thinking that the world was waiting
just beyond my world for me.
What did I expect to find?
Something more than what I see
upon my parents' tired faces.
Something more than what
they fill their lives with
even if that something's only me.
World, you'd better have
that something ready
or I'll make it for my own." p.108
Quotes:
"How right to love you,
across the room across
across the seas
and if need be
all across a lifetime with or without you." p.49
"More and more
I wonder if that distance
always was and has been
as compatible as closeness." p.54
"The truth is
no one listens.
Not to the frogs or the crickets,
not to the baying of hounds
or the barking of dogs,
not even to the radio -
or the radiator's bumping.
People hear all right
but they hear only those things
they themselves have programed
and any chance of getting past
those build-in scramblers
is remote and far removed
if one can even give it that." p.58
"Now I have the time
to see bad movies
and read bad books
aloud to you.
I can now waste time
on you and on myself.
Mid-week picnics.
Minding my temper in traffic.
Washing your back
and cleaning out my closets.
Staying in bed with you
long past the rush hour
and the pangs of hunger.
And listening
to the story of your life
in deadly detail
whatever time it takes,
I have that time." p.61-62
"A phrase of love
can be strung out
in such a way
that hate by contrast
sounds more beautiful." p.67
"Love stings when it should tingle
and leaves long scars
instead of deep impressions.
Worst of all
for love gone wrong
there is no warranty
or bond to cover damage." p.68
"The guarantee
for finding sanity again
is finding love again
and giving over
to the new beloved
that one facet of yourself
you held back last time." p.69
"I've been waiting all this time
thinking that the world was waiting
just beyond my world for me.
What did I expect to find?
Something more than what I see
upon my parents' tired faces.
Something more than what
they fill their lives with
even if that something's only me.
World, you'd better have
that something ready
or I'll make it for my own." p.108
February 2, 2023
I do like poetry. But, as I like that that presents effort and work, I don't like dribbling, emotional nonsense. Edward Lear made more sense to me than the contents of this book.
I've known the McKuen name most all my life. If I'd read McKuen in the past, i'm not surprised I don't remember the contents. For me, very forgettable stuff.
The contents scream suicidal. I learned it took nearly ten years to be diagnosed such, though he was selling millions of copies of evidence.
His bumper writings are, also, empty. I know he made the Media rounds. Recall seeing him part of interview programs. Did he pre-suppose whatever wasn't written was already known?
McKuen tapped into a simplistic want and sold much. Of course, he produced more. And more.
I've another of his books. I'll give the entirety a spin. Maybe this collective lot is not to be considered a whole. I'll post a review of that next.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 2 out of ten points.
I've known the McKuen name most all my life. If I'd read McKuen in the past, i'm not surprised I don't remember the contents. For me, very forgettable stuff.
The contents scream suicidal. I learned it took nearly ten years to be diagnosed such, though he was selling millions of copies of evidence.
His bumper writings are, also, empty. I know he made the Media rounds. Recall seeing him part of interview programs. Did he pre-suppose whatever wasn't written was already known?
McKuen tapped into a simplistic want and sold much. Of course, he produced more. And more.
I've another of his books. I'll give the entirety a spin. Maybe this collective lot is not to be considered a whole. I'll post a review of that next.
Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 2 out of ten points.
September 11, 2024
Great poetry for anyone that’s ever been in love or wanted to die. I think a lot of his criticism comes from it being too emotionally on the nose and while I agree to an extent I think there are poetry critics out there who just wanna shit anything that isn’t labyrinthian and archaic. Fun and quick read.
November 25, 2021
Beautiful poetry! Oddly nostalgic to read!
August 12, 2022
Similiar to Atticus while the poems and short and simple they are easy to read, heartfelt and memorable and I enjoyed reading this collection.
September 24, 2022
3.5 stars
October 9, 2007
I know I loved his poetry when I read it, but I was *thirteen* - still, gave it three stars because I liked it so much then. Now, hm. Get a good anthology instead.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews