Auguries of Innocence (2005) The singer-songwriter's first collection since 1979 is both elusive and allusive (shout-outs to Rimbaud and Picasso). Sample Verse "Her head droops, a capricious rose/crushed by… Nonfiction Poetry Ecco Press
EW's GRADE
B-

Details Release Date: Oct 01, 2005; Writer: Patti Smith; Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry; Publisher: Ecco Press

The singer-songwriter's first collection since 1979 is both elusive and allusive (shout-outs to Rimbaud and Picasso). Sample Verse ''Her head droops, a capricious rose/crushed by gravity. How so and why/sours the tiny bud.'' Token Topical Poem From ''Birds of Iraq'': ''Over the Tigris/the Euphrates/ helicopters/drop leaflets/for people to eat.'' Bottom Line While Auguries of Innocence outshines the verse of rocker Billy Corgan, Patti Smith's poetic language is only sometimes wedded to a consistent image or theme.

Originally posted Nov 18, 2005 Published in issue #851 Nov 25, 2005 Order article reprints