Singer Tom Waits, shown June 17, 2008, is to publish his poetry in a book collaboration with photojournalist Michael O'Brien. Singer Tom Waits, shown June 17, 2008, is to publish his poetry in a book collaboration with photojournalist Michael O'Brien. (Matt York/Associated Press)

Singer Tom Waits is to make his publishing debut next year with a book that combines his poetry with images of the homeless.

He will work with photographer Michael O'Brien on the book Hard Ground, to be published by University of Texas in March 2011.

It is modelled on 1941's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, which combined James Agee's poetry and Walker Evans's photographs of Depression-era farmers.

O'Brien, a photographer who has photographed Waits himself, has returned to the theme of homelessness several times in his work.

The publisher said O'Brien will "create a portrait of homelessness that impels us to look into the eyes of people who live on the hard ground and recognize our common humanity. For Waits, who has spent decades writing about outsiders, this subject is familiar territory."

Waits, known for the gritty imagery of his songwriting, has won two Grammy Awards.