An American Prayer

by Jim Morrison

Este livro, que deu início à colecção Rei Lagarto, mostra-nos o percurso deste cantor/ compositor dos lendários The Doors, através dos poemas que escreveu para os álbuns The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1968), Waiting for the Sun (1969), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), Absolutely Live (1970) e L.A. Woman (1971) e ainda o poema An American Prayer, publicado em plaquete, edição de 200 exemplares, fora de comércio, distribuída pelos amigos do autor, em 1970, bem como Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased — poema distribuído pelo público em alguns concertos nos Estados Unidos, pouco depois da morte de Brian Jones, dos Rolling Stones, a 3 de Julho de 1969.

Genres: Poetry, Music, Fiction, American, The United States Of America, Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lizard King" was undoubtedly a poet, and he made a feather with his tail.
For die-hard fans, this book will be a precious Bible, a hymnal of the hallucinatory and lyrical hymns of a legend; for others, it will be a Rimbaldian poetic collection, a shamanic flight drawing its incantatory power from Blake or Huxley.
In short, this book is to put in each hand. A bilingual version of precise or hermetic poetry will make you travel far and high—you're lost in a Roman desert, of lost pain, to Alabama aboard the Ship of Fools or even passengers of torment in the crystal ship.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Morrison's poetry changed my perspective on life. It opened up a whole new world to me, one that is completely limitless. His imagery is dark, dangerous, and beautiful.

[Luke Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singer, dissolute, drunk - James Douglas Morrison was all of these things. But, most of all, he was a master of the use of language. These pieces are spoken visions more than poems, and for that reason are best listened to on the album of the same name as the book, vividly recounted in the manner he interprets them himself. Words rise and coil, like audible wisps of smoke, into ephemeral images of his own exotic creation as he works magic with them. It is no less than genius at play.

As he said of himself: "I'll always be a word man, better than a bird man ..."

Luke F. D. Marsden (author of Wondering, the Way is Made)

[Julie Rylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Morrison is god. That's all i have to say. One of the most inteligent human beings that ever stepped on earth.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It shows me the way to the next whiskey bar...

[Jaze Danelver · Rating 4 out of 5]

An American Prayer is a collection of poems written by sexy, enigmatic, genius, writing prowess, the Lizard King, Jim Morrison.

Jim is one of those historical figures of American pop culture that fascinates me the most. His genius mind is so ahead of his time and his years. His work on the Doors, though short, left a mark on the music that will live on for years to come.

I consumed An American Prayer through an album that the surviving the Doors members released after Jim’s passing by adding background music to his spoken poetry.

Jim’s poems reflects on his nihilistic views of life. He talks about metaphysical stuff like spirituality, divinity, and the dark, and macabre side of a human’s life. Don’t expect Jim to write flowery poems about love and sunshine and rainbows. His poems can be twisted and disturbing; Jim was obsessed with death and the afterlife. The poems range between describing a bad acid trip to depressive rambles. But there are poems that are kinda funny (like the BlackPolished Chrome) which provides a break from all the grim theme of his written works.

Despite all these, I enjoy hearing Jim’s low and sultry voice when he speaks and he sings. Maybe not so much when he screams since it scared the shizz out of me when I first heard it here. Overall, in my simplistic mind, I’m just beyond amazed he wrote this (and the songs he written for the Doors). It shows how wise and aware he is of the metaphysical aspect of life and the world.

If youre a fan of music, the Doors, history, or poems by celebrities, give this one a try and you will find out how much of a wunderkid Jim was.

[Pavlo Shchepan · Rating 4 out of 5]

перша спроба розгорнутого відгуку.

Книга містичного не побоюсь цих слів - поета-шамана.
Книга людини, яка повинна була стати міфом своєї доби, можливо, навіть, не однієї. І стала ним. Усі тексти, що наведені у книзі є поясненням і відповіддю на усі запитання, які виникли під час життя і смерті Моррісона. Вони такі ж як він - повні свободи, алкоголю, сексу, Л'Америки і поетики, яку він спостерігав у найзакинутіших місцинах існування. У книзі образ Моррісона - фронтмена-легенди 70-их - початку 80-их можна побачити з трішки іншого боку: під час прочитання віршів складається враження, що ти на концерті не The Doors, а лише Моррісона, який говорить до кожної людини, що на ньому присутня. Ти майже бачиш цих людей. Але важливіше те, що ти бачиш як він говорить з кожним з них. І іноді звертається до тебе. І це не просто слова, він намагається говорити з твоєю суттю, розбудити і показати її тобі. В такому випадку не пручайся, бо хто як не Моррісон знається у цьому найкраще.
*Поезія, якій ніколи не судилося стати лише поезією.
p.s: книга до якої потрібно повертатись.

[Yiota Misiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Γνωρίζεις ότι οδηγούμαστε στα σφαγεία
από πράους ναυάρχους
και ότι τούτοι οι χοντρομπαλάδες νωθροί στρατηγοί ξερογλείφονται χυδαία στη θέα του νεανικού αίματος;

Γνωρίζεις ότι η τηλεόραση μας εξουσιάζει;

......

Ω μεγάλε δημιουργέ της ύπαρξης
δώρισέ μας μια ώρα επιπλέον
να εκπληρώσουμε την τέχνη μας και τέλειες να πλάσουμε τις ζωές μας.

Οι πεταλουδίτσες και οι άθεοι είναι διπλά θε'ι'κοί και θνητοί. "

Απόσπασμα από το ποίημα:
Μια Αμερικάνικη προσευχή

Αγαπώ τους Doors, αγαπώ τον Jim Morrison ως τραγουδοποιό, αλλά πλέον και ως ποιητή !!!

"I'll always be a word-man
Better than a birdman" J.M.

[Claudia Cutiño cortés · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Morrison is an inspiration to me. His poetry is a gateway to the sentimental wonders of life.
Jim Morrison's poetry allows me to feel free, as he sends the message of the inner universal truth through his own artistically unique words. I highly admire his work, it's mystifying, yet honest.

[Sharise · Rating 5 out of 5]

See other review

[Antonio Rubio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Así como Jim Morrison describe que los espíritus de un grupo de nativos americanos penetraron su alma durante la niñez, el palpitar poético de Morrison, su voz entre la calma de Sinatra y el rugido de una bestia, sacudió mi infancia. Las canciones de The Doors fueron mi primer encuentro con el ejercicio poético. Nada comprendía yo de la poesía. Nada sabía yo del performance. Seducido por la voz y el cuerpo de Morrison, sí entendí que para formarme debía imitarle tanto en la voz como en la escritura.

Pasaron los años y naturalmente me olvidé del Morrison-poeta. En mi memoria habitaba con cierto aprecio, pero no le tomaba muy en serio. Así pues, la re-lectura de An American Prayer, publicado en 1978 (seis años después de la muerte del autor) me resultó fascinante. En la traducción de José Vicente Anaya, aparecida en la editorial Laberinto (una edición bilingüe, la cual falla al trasladar el texto original, pues hay incontables errores de transcripción), Morrison se encuentra en manos más que dignas.

A nivel textual, es un recorrido por toda a obra poética del autor, que se entreve en la discografía de The Doors. Es interesante como "Peace Frog", "Roadhouse Blues", "Riders on the Storm" forman parte de la experiencia poética y, como fan del banda, resultan paradas familiares y amadas. An American Prayer es una ceremonia potente que se imparte durante un viaje que recorre las distintas facetas poéticas de Morrison: el más salvaje, el más erótico, el más vulnerable. Por supuesto, y para mi sorpresa prejuiciosa, hay versos de gran calibre: "Hacemos confesión de fe / como creyentes en / que una noche de Lujuria / nos hace confiar en / que lo nocturno / nos da color"; "La muerte nos convierte en ángeles / y nos pone alas en los hombros / donde habíamos tenido / suaves garras de / cuervos". Me gusta cómo Morrison puede pasar del erotismo sagrado en la mutilación (en la Oración hay un sacrificio de "vergas") hasta un sentido homenaje a la amistad más allá de la muerte: "Prefiero las fiestas de mis amigos en lugar de las de grandes familias").

Ahora bien, An American Prayer debe leerse acompañado de la versión performativa con música de The Doors. Ante eso, cualquier poeta flaquea frente al despliegue actoral y dramático de la ceremonia. Como lectura silenciosa e individual es una experiencia incompleta: hay que escuchar la voz del lagarto.

Del uno al diez: N u e v e.

[Charoula Akasha_Minerva Koinoyokan · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

jimbo

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leer esto a las 7 y media de la mañana en un tren me hizo agradecer que Jim Morrison esté muerto porque puedo apreciar su música y no puede levantarse de la tumba para escribir más poemas

[Ronnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Me parece que el hecho de que sea una obra de Morrison me hizo tener una expectativa muy alta, pero realmente no me hizo sentir nada. Creo que la poesía es un tema demasiado delicado para mí y suelo pensar en darle una segunda oportunidad a lo que leo y siento que probablemente no me gusto por mi culpa, pero nah, no creo que esto lo valga. Lo siento, de todas maneras intentare leer más de Jim para quitarme esta mala imagen que me ha quedado de su trabajo como poeta.

[Morgan]

what a buetiful mind he had

[Chris Brimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, this is what I mean by something

[Steven]

very good

[Iceman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simplesmente os poemas das canções dos Doors.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Despierta
sacude lo sueños de tu cabellera
mi bella dulce niña.
Elige tu día y el signo de tu día.
La divinidad del día es
lo primero que verás..."

[Daniel Schechtel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We have assembled inside this ancient
and insane theatre
to propagate our lust for life
and flee the swarming wisdom
of the
street"

"No eternal reward will forgive us now
For wasting the dawn."

[Lerryns Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es uno de mis libros de cabecera. La poesía de Morrison es de mis favoritas.

[Katy Brandes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just kinda trippy blah.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Jim Morrison had an approach to poetry that was not unlike the ancient Oriental method described by Wei T'ai in the 11th century; "Poetry presents the thing in order to covey the feeling. It should be precise about the thing and reticent about the feeling, for as soon as the mind responds and connects with the thing the feeling shows in words; this is how poetry enters deeply into us. If the poet presents directly feelings which overwhelm him, and keeps nothing back to linger as an aftertaste, he stirs us superficially; he cannot start the hands and feet involuntarily waving and tapping in time, far less strengthen morality and refine culture, set heaven and earth in motion and call up spirits!"

Morrison mentions this of poetry in an interview; "Listen, real poetry doesn't say anything, it just ticks off the possibilities. Opens all doors. You can walk through any one that suits you.. . . and that's why poetry appeals to me so much - because it's so eternal. As long as there are people, they can remember words and combinations of words. Nothing else can survive a holocaust but poetry and songs. No one can remember an entire novel. No one can describe a film, a piece of sculpture, a painting, but so long as there are human beings, songs and poetry can continue.
If my poetry aims to achieve anything, It's to deliver people from the limited ways in which they see and feel."

Morrison has remained an influence on my work for over 20 years now-I remember classes in Graduate school in which his poems or name would come up and it was always in a disregarding fashion, yet his books of poetry have been among the highest sellers of all time in that genre (and continue to be). Morrison was Blakean in poetic sensibility and Nietzschian in philosophy which is a terrifying combination if you think about it-he sought to be rid of the 'Mind Forged Manacles' that Blake spoke of and also desired a 'World as a will to power and nothing more' as Nietzsche mentions.
There is something of the eternal and the powerfully visionary about Morrison's work that remains- he was and also is a controversial figure, a poet that attempted to re-create the theater of Artaud in a way that would inform later performers like Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. I think that Morrison's contribution to modern poetry was much more significant than he is currently being given credit for in the Academy.
* Notes about Morrison regarding his poetry by the Poet Michael McClure; " One of the things I like about this biography is that it shows that Jim knew himself to be a poet. That was the basis of my friendship and brotherhood with him,-I know of no better poet of Jim's generation. Few poets have been such public figures or entertainers (perhaps Mayakovsky in Russia in the twenties and thirties) and none have had so brief or so powerful a career."

[Mireille Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este livro, que deu início à colecção "Rei Lagarto", mostra-nos o percurso deste cantor/ compositor dos lendários The Doors, através dos poemas que escreveu para os álbuns The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1968), Waiting for the Sun (1969), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), Absolutely Live (1970) e L.A. Woman (1971) e ainda o poema An American Prayer, publicado em plaquete, edição de 200 exemplares, fora de comércio, distribuída pelos amigos do autor, em 1970, bem como Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased — poema distribuído pelo público em alguns concertos nos Estados Unidos, pouco depois da morte de Brian Jones, dos Rolling Stones, a 3 de Julho de 1969.

[Robert Hochstetter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Jim Morrison, he's been one of my favorite lead singers ever since I discovered him and The Doors back when I was a teenager, but what was this other than the incoherent ramblings of a heroin addict that rhyme to make sense maybe only once or twice and not just to make it rhyme?

[Robnrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥⁣
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 & 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵⁣
𝘛𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 & 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴⁣
𝘞/ 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴⁣
𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵

You think I am going to give Jim Morrison anything less than five stars? Do you even know me?

[sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool Book

[Candice Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the American Prayer on vinyl and the art work with the spoken word was phenomenal! The day it melted in my trunk I cried.

[Nelson Zagalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um dos principais poemas de Morrison.