The renowned poet Al Young presents his first collection of poetry - Coastal Nights and Inland Afternoons - since being named California Poet Laureate by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this latest collection, Al Young again demonstrates why his poetry is beloved worldwide. While other poets speak, Al Young sings. His life spent in music and the work that reflects it, shows readers that poetry is the boom-box of the soul. Like poets across the ages, Young reflects on the pride and prejudice of his era, and then shouts out his passion, his contempt and his glee with perfect words, perfect lines, perfect poems. Whether he speaks of love or loss, laughs at the oddities of the social order, or dreams of what might be, Al Young the poet brings us songs that can shape our collective consciousness and enhance our collective joy.