Book thief vents rage on laureate's poetry with shotgun

[KamaAina]

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2015/05/21/book-thief-vents-rage-laureates-poetry-shotgun/27711589/

Two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins has been blasted by critics before but never this literally.

Miegan and Chan Gordon, the veteran booksellers of rare and used books at The Captain's Bookshelf, have the proof that poetry, long mourned as dead or dying in American culture, can still rouse angry, even bizarre responses.

About a month ago, Miegan Gordon opened up the store on Page Avenue, turning on the lights, but finding an overflow shelf of poetry books had been tampered with....

The book had been blasted with a .410 shotgun at close range that sent more than 20 pellets through the pages and out the back. On the rear inside cover, Collins' author photograph had been meticulously defaced in ink with a devil's beard and mustache and the eyes blacked out.

[malthaussen]

1. Everybody's a critic

Funny, though, as soon as I read the headline I figured it was going to be Billy. Possibly my favorite living American poet. Once he hears about this, he'll probably write a funny poem about it.

-- Mal

[Tobin S.]

2. Maybe he touched a nerve. :)

I would feel a weird sense of gratification if someone felt that strongly about something I wrote.

[frogmarch]

4. Same here, Tobin! :-D nt

[frogmarch]

3. I love this story!

I'm going to send it around. Cracks me up!

The person who did it must have known the book was at the store.