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Chapters (26)
  1. Cover
  2. CHARLES BUKOWSKI
  3. SCREAMS FROM THE BALCONY
  4. EDITED BYSEAMUS COONEY
  5. Contents
  6. EDITOR’S NOTE
  7. • 1958 •
  8. • 1959 •
  9. • 1960 •
  10. • 1961 •
  11. • 1962 •
  12. • 1963 •
  13. • 1964 •
  14. • 1965 •
  15. • 1966 •
  16. • 1967 •
  17. • 1968 •
  18. • 1969 •
  19. AFTERWORD
  20. SEARCHABLE TERMS
  21. Acknowledgments
  22. About the Author
  23. BY CHARLES BUKOWSKIAVAILABLE FROM ECCO
  24. Copyright
  25. About the Publisher
  26. About the Publisher

No, as to title, I don’t care for Naked in the Womb or the Alcatraz one. When I said you think up title, I was only thinking in terms of a summary title such as Selected Poems or etc. As to the other type of title, I don’t think it would be fair for you to submit titles any more than it would be fair for you to put one of your poems in there under my name. Surely, you understand this? I have been trying to think up a summary title, but if you want a straight title, I will send you a half dozen or so in a day or two. I’m glad this came up. Please do not use one of your titles that is not a summary title (such as Collected Poems, Selected Poems) as this would take the heart out of me. I will be strictly dreaming titles from here on in, say like Beer and Frogs Legs or I Can’t Stand the Sunshine When People Walk Around in It or For Jocks, Chambermaids, Thieves and Bassoon Players. I almost like the last one. It carries summation plus the rest. Yes. [* * *] or Tonic for the Mole. Meaning these type of poems for those who duck out to the world, ya know. or Minstrels Would Go Crazy Singing This.[* * *]

Know it cost you money to have your man work on photos but glad he perked up a couple. I cannot get over the nightmare of those photos, and maybe some day I can write about it, but it’s still too close. [* * *]

• 1963 •

The title settled on is a phrase taken from a poem by Robinson Jeffers. Permission to use it had to be obtained from Random House.

[To Jon and Louise Webb]

January 2, 1963

christ, I’m glad you liked the title (It Catches My Heart in Its Hands), and yes I’m sending book (this piece “Such Counsel You Gave to Me”) to you [* * *], and no, I’m not going to change my mind, THAT’S IT, and so if you are going to or have set up an ad using title, fine. Also glad you and Louise have accepted dedication. I have been worried about both ends of this: title and dedication, and now all’s well. [* * *]

No, I don’t know how many copies of each of the 3 earlier books there were. Although I believe Cuscaden (Run With) mentioned 200, and I believe Longshots around 200 too. On Griffith (Flower, Fist), I don’t know, and also, he doesn’t answer his mail. [* * *]