Hey, I'm Josh Barrow, your new host of Left, Right, and Center.

Every week join Rich Lowry, Bob Shear and Me for a contentious yet civilized debate of the week's big political stories,

from ISIS to the U.S. economy to this 47 candidate presidential election we're having.

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Boots.

Where would we be without boos?

Where would we be without good?

No.

It's a rhetorical question, sir.

But where would we be without books? From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Michael Silverblatt, and this is Bookworm. Today, I'm very happy to have as my guest, Amy Gersler, whose new book of poems scattered at sea has recently come out from

the Penguin Press. She's done six books with them. This is the sixth. Her editor hastened

to remind me. And I think this is a terrific book. And I want you to hear what it sounds like right away.

So we're going to begin by reading the first poem in the book.

It's called Seafoom Palace.

Sea Foam Palace.

Pardon this frontal offensive, dear chum. Forgive my word churn, my drift,

the ways this text message has gotten all frothy. How was it you became holy to me? Should I resist,

furiously? Is this your true visage, shaken free, glimpses of what underlies the world

we can see? Do not forget me, murmurs something nibbled by fishes under the sea.

I love the way you wear your face, how you ride this life. I delight in the sight of your nervous,

inquisitive eyes, though I try to act otherwise. Being stoned out of thy mind only amps up

...