Poetry best sellers, March 13-21, 2011

After months in migratory flight away from the contemporary best seller list, Derek Walcott’s White Egrets has returned. It sits atop the list, ahead of four Mary Oliver books (four!). Then rounding out the top ten are two debuts: Anita Skeen’s Never the Whole Story, and Les Murray’s Taller When Prone. The Observer noted on the occasion of this book (Murray’s 30th) that the poet “has earned his reputation not only as one of Australia's finest writers but as one of the most engaging poets writing in English today. And if this means he is occasionally mistaken for a celebrity chef, it must be a price worth paying.” Which seems obvious. Would you accept being one of the best English language poets if it meant people sometimes asked you for Paula Deen’s autograph? Yes. You would. Don’t even front.