RIP: Jim Carroll, 1949-2009

He wrote “The Basketball Diaries,” his autobiography about sex, drugs and basketball as a NYC teenager.

When he published his mainstream collection of poems, “Living at the Movies,” in 1973 at the age of 22, Ted Berrigan declared “Jim Carroll is the first truly new American poet,” and Larry Rivers’ artwork adorned the cover.

As a rock musician, he shot into the limelight with the song, “People Who Died.”

On Friday, September 11, Jim Carroll died in his NYC apartment while working at his desk.

“Little Ode on St. Anne’s Day”
by Jim Carroll, from “Living at the Movies”

You’re growing up
and rain sort of remains
on the branches of a tree
that will someday rule the earth.

and that’s good
that there’s rain
it clears the month
of your sorry rainbow expressions

and clears the streets
of the silent armies…

so we can dance

Update: Marty Benjamin just sent along two photos that you can view here.