Monday, Nov. 08, 2004

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, If You Like My Records, Read My Poetry, Too

By Rebecca Winters

BILLY CORGAN THE BOOK: Blinking with Fists, released Oct. 1 THE BUZZ: Former poet laureate Robert Pinsky's publisher is pushing the collection by this alt rocker, who packed rage and rhythm into his lyrics for the Smashing Pumpkins CRINGEWORTHY VERSE: Atwixt the twine and flowers divine/ Devise the deign in this copper wane THE AUDIENCE: Art-school dropouts

ALICIA KEYS THE BOOK: Tears for Water, due Nov. 8 THE BUZZ: The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter shares 27 poems from her personal journals CRINGEWORTHY VERSE: Golden sunshine's/ peeking through the grayness of the sky/ Soon it will be in full view/ And rain won't stain your eye THE AUDIENCE: Teen girls who keep on fallin' for their piano teachers

JILL SCOTT THE BOOK: The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours, due in 2005 THE BUZZ: Before she sang neo-soul tunes, Scott was a spoken-word veteran of Philadelphia's boho cafes CRINGEWORTHY VERSE: What does the alley cat do when the unchained dog begins to growl? THE AUDIENCE: Grownup gals who want their groove back