101 Books, Number 88

Favorite Books from Throughout My Life

the actual copy I read

88. Youngblood Hawke, 1961, by Hermon Wouk (1915–)

That’s right—this dude is still on earth—

Still writing books (oh so I hear).

And Wouk has really given birth

To countless books—let’s make that clear.

Caine Mutiny—a famous work—

And others that are not so much.

But be he saint or be he jerk

He’s got, it seems, the Midas Touch.

And Youngblood Hawke? I can’t think why

I read that book so long ago—

But this I know: Those pages fly

When Wouk’s in charge—oh, nothing slow.

The story’s based (a little bit)

On the career of Thomas Wolfe.

And book and film—both were a hit.

(But won’t endure, like Beowulf.*)

I sure that I was still a teen

When I consumed this rapid tale,

Enjoyed the parts that were not “clean”—

Yes, winds of Wouk just filled my sail!

*I know: This is rhyme-cheating. But it’s the best I can do.