Time & Money

by William Matthews

William Matthews's ten books have gradually earned him a place on the first roster of American poets -" as water licks its steady way through stone." " Very little of the poetry of the past twenty years," Henry Taylor has written in the Washington Times, " is more intelligent and engaging than that of William Matthews . .. Admiring gratitude seems perfectly appropriate." The New Yorker has described Matthews's work as " poems that revel in etymology and delight in colloquialism." And Carol Muske, in The Nation, has added: " If asked, I couldn't come up with a poet more in tune with the ironies and stand-up vernacular, the jazz of the everyday, than William Matthews . . . Matthews is a wise and fine poet and a funny person. Like time and money, an unbeatable combination. " This is a large-hearted book, a strong and worldly book, the work of five years by one of the most admired and generous of American poets. The National Book Critics Circle named it the winner of its 1995 award in poet

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

William Procter Matthews III was an American poet and essayist.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of poetry. The poem about Folsom Prison and Johnny Cash is amazing, as are a couple dozen other poems in the book!

[Jeff Youngstrom]

My review from January 22, 1998

[hh · Rating 5 out of 5]

fuck i wish i had been reading this before.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Matthew's Time and Money delights at times, but not continuously - some of the poems just seem too self-conscious. But that is too critical for a book I enjoyed a good deal.

"To teach what you know - laughter, ignorance,
curiosity, and the erotic thrall
of work as a restraint against despair -
comes as close to freedom as anyone pays
wages for." from "Note Left ..."

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

billy collins gets all the attention in the earthy, funny poet category. that's fine. but william matthews is right there in my book.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, especially poems about Mingus

[Mills College Library]

811.54 M442t 1995

[Jake Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

The style is very much Billy Collins, sage of the everyday, poetry for everyone. But these weren't acute or poignant or funny enough to make it worthwhile.

[Richard Spiegel]

Matthews served as chairman of the NEA Literature panel in 1978, while I was a fellow at the Endowment. He was a benevolent presence in the field. Years later, I read this book while directing a poetry and literacy project for NYC alternative high school students. The poems are from late in Mattews life.