''Cool Gardens'' is a poetry book by the lead singer of the band System of a Down, Serj Tankian. It was published by

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

Books and was released on October 1, 2002. It is a collection of seven to eight years of Tankian's reflections on life, and features artwork by fellow Angeleno,

Sako Shahinian Sako Shahinian ( hy, Սաքո Շահինյան; born 1980) is an American-Armenian illustrator whose artwork has been featured in System of a Down projects. Biography Sako Shahinian is an artist designer with a multi disciplinary background. He ...

. The poetry, like the songs of System of a Down, consists of a reflection of societies and people's wrongs. It portrays what people do to themselves and the control others try to hold over them. The book has received much praise in the artistic community. Fellow

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

and

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

Saul Williams Saul Stacey Williams (born February 29, 1972) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in the 1998 independent film ''Slam'' ...

posted the following comments about Tankian's book:

''Serj's words, like his voice, have a distinct aesthetic sensibility connected to an unyielding, visceral roar of passion. His capacity 'to mock a killing bird' while we wonder at the grace, beauty, and colorful range of his wingspan will be the trademark of both of his singing and writing careers. Serj is an amazing artist, full of passion, with a beautiful heart that pumps the essence of his vision and talent.''

Poem listing

*Prenatal Familiarities *From Words To Portraits *Mer *Businessman vs. Homeless *A Metaphor? *Duty Free Fear *Day Or Night *Matter *The Count *Wet Flower *Mercury *City Of Blinds *Compassion *Brain Waves *Compliment *Rain *Subatomic Music *Days Inn *Partial Moons *Soil *The Void *Sun Bear *Kevorkian Patient's Plee *I Don't Want To Shower *Desystemization *Mix *Information *Silence *Tars *Nil *Reality The Beautiful *Jeffrey, Are You Listening? *Freezing *Pen *Fermented Husbands *Artco. *Indentured Servitude *Dawn *Conquer? *Circus Tiger *Friik *PsychiatryPsychiatry *Orange Light *Words Of A Madman *My Words *Misunderstood Rose *Defeatism *Children *Prop. 192 *Child's Man *I Am My Woman *Overload *Time For Bed *Am *Identity *Permanently Plucked *Shine *Now *Self Elimination *New Ear *Dr. Trance *Puzzle *Death *A Mess *Felix The Cat *Revolution *A Letter To Congress *Data *Minute Horizons *Art *Primrose *Touche' *Life Savers *Nations *One Word *Lighter *Addiction *12 Lives *House Of Flies *Cat Naps *Culture *NYC *I Am Ready *Her Eye *Edge Of A Sink *I'm Erica *First Entry *Flux

Adaptations

Audio

On September 22, 2020, ''Cool Gardens'' was released as an unabridged audiobook, narrated by author, Tankian. The audiobook format has a runtime of one hour, six minutes. Three videos highlighting the spoken word versions of "Nil," "My Words," and "City of Blinds," featuring art and animation by

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

-based artist D.S. Bradford, were released leading up to and after the audiobook's release.

References

{{System of a Down 2002 books Books by Serj Tankian System of a Down