Time & Money

by William Matthews

A new collection by a worldly and cynical writer addresses his lifetime losses and loves, offering his observations on such topics as musicians ("They have to hit the note/and the emotion") and money ("it's math/with consequences").

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Hardcover

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.