I have a friend named Rachel Kann. Her new book, "10 for Everything" is fresh off the press; I got my copy in the mail today. Turn the book over and marvel at one of the most sizzling author photos I've ever encountered--all gams and attitude, adorned with pigtails and an unflitered cig. The girl ain't playin'.

Rachel Kann is a poet. She says so herself in that little self-indulgency called "About the Author" that so often pops up on a book's last inside page, where no one actually manages to look. But there it is, black and white, loud and clear: Rachel Kann is a poet.

"10 for Everything" however, is not a poetry book. It's a sexy, quirky,revelatory work of fiction which quickly becomes an addiction. The underlying spark for that addiction is that fact that...well, Rachel Kann is a poet. The inventive yet lyrical irreverence that make her such a whiz at stanzas infuses her fiction with twists of language that quickly become addictive.

And I just finished "She's Gone," an amazing debut novel by by our own Mr. Kwame Dawes. In this textured tale of lust and politics, his sizzling prose sports a signature that will be instantly familiar to anyone who knows and appreciates his poetic voice.

In fact, my favorite poet of all time has also penned twenty--count 'em, twenty--novels. And while he tries his best to squelch his poetic tendencies in the pages of his mysteries, he fails miserably. I'd recognize that poetry anywhere.

I'm thrilled to read Kann, Dawes and my all-time favorite poet, to savor those fictional passages long and aloud. Which got me to thinking...who are some other poets who are also successful fiction writers, or fiction folks who also write poetry? And are poets naturally drawn to fiction with a heavy poetic element?

I know I am.

For instance, James Lee Burke--the author of a popular series of mysteries starring Louisiana sleuth Dave Robicheaux-- is not a poet, but he is the man behind one of the most stunning, lushly poetic passages I've ever read. (I'd repeat it here, but my copy of his book "In Electric Mist With Confederate Dead" has gone missing, and I certainly don't want to approximate the words. I've ordered another copy, and as soon as I get it, I'll post the passage here.) Then there's Daniel Woodrell. Toni Morrison. (Shall we ruminate upon the breathless ending of "Jazz"?)

So. Let's talk fiction. Who's effectively crossing that stupid little blurry line between the genres?