Sunday, March 17, 2024

Perfect Stranger by Earl McMurray (1997)


 Perfect Stranger

Earl McMurray

The Ledge Press

1997 Poetry Chapbook Contest Winner

Glendale, NY

(c)1997

Staple bound chapbook on slick cover stock. Photo of the poet inside back cover. Belated congrats for this contest winner (decades belated at this point). Have to say, (I) greatly appreciate that many of the poems in this winner book are absent of first person singular. 



The Nepal royal family booklets (1986)


 His Majesty King/ Her Majesty Queen

Department of Information

Ministry of Communication

HMG

Nepal

(c)1986

More information that I would ever need about the royal couple as of 1986. A royal family in the tradition of all single family rulers. Their heirs still run the country in 2024. No - this isn't poetry but they are chapbooks. Or booklets. Or historical documents. (a wink to Galaxy Quest). Okay, it's more nuanced than that. The Monarch was abolished in 2008. But the same family ruled the country since the mid-1700s and the same other family rules as prime minister even now. 


Friday, March 01, 2024

Dancing Back Strong the Nation by Maurice Kenny (1979)


Dancing Back Strong the Nation

Maurice Kenny 

The Blue Cloud Quarterly 

Marvin, SD

(c) 1979

Similar to the Joel Oppenheimer book I just wrote about this one also "defies" definition in that it isn't even mentioned on the Wikipedia page for the author. There is a listing on that page of a version of this book published in 1981 by White Pine Press (something about this press, I swear) with an introduction to the work by Paula Gunn Allen, who also wrote the introduction - likely word for word taken - for the 1979 book published by The Blue Cloud Quarterly. I suggest you click onto the link for the Blue Cloud Quarterly since it goes into much deeper detail about that publication. I personally am ambivalent about Catholic publications "work on behalf of" Native writers since the history of European religions contributing to the obliteration of Native religions is raw and without justification. 

And yet, if this publication had not brought out the work by a number of Native voices, would we even know of them? 

Or know the name of the artist, Rokwaho, who did the cover image?

I greatly value the writings of all "marginal" groups who are part of the American Experience since for most of the history of the United States that narrative has been controlled by white Christians of European descent. 

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Why Not by Joel Oppenheimer (1987)


 Why Not

Joel Oppenheimer

White Pine Press

Fredonia, NY

(c) 1987

This is the second book published by White Pine Press of poetry by Joel Oppenheimer that has intrigued me. This time because this is actually a reprint of a book that was published, according to the Wikipedia page for Mr. Oppenheimer, just two years prior by Press of the Good Mountain - which after doing a quick bit of research online I found to be an actual publisher located in Rochester, NY. The Press was created at the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1950. The instructor of Typography at the college, Alexander Lawson, was the supervisor of the Press. 

Thirty-five years later, the Press of the Good Mountain published Why Not and then 2 years later, White Pine Press brought out their own version of the same book. Contractual issues? One can only speculate as those involved have all gone into the reeds at this point. However, on the printer's page there is an acknowledgment that the book is an expanded version of the "limited letterpress edition" which had been made by a David Lorczak at the Press of the Good Mountain. The cover illustration is by Joel Oppenheimer. 

I wonder how few copies exist of that original 1985 letterpress edition. Apparently the 1985 edition had 100 copies printed. I have seen the cover online. Copies are not cheap online then again, they all seem to be signed by either Joel or David. 

Friday, February 23, 2024

This Hunger by Carol Cullar (1993)


 This Hunger  

Carol Cullar  

The Maverick Press

Eagle Press, TX

(c)1993

Inscribed and signed inside front. Printed on recycled paper. One of 150 copies printed. Signed on back pages. Unpaginated. 

Ms. Cullar was an artist as well as the editor of a literary publication called "The Maverick Press" in that part of Texas. The cover image was created by Ms. Cullar. Hand sewn. Beautiful book. Well crafted poems. 

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Writers' Work from Northern Virginia Community College (1986)


 Writer's Work 

Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus)

(c)1986


Recently a poet's personal library was "donated" to a local library that I am involved with. The poet's collection was rather unceremoniously released as the poet had died a few weeks prior and apparently their books were not designated to be placed anywhere. So...

The poet had also taught English and creative writing at the NOVA (as it is commonly referred to in the region) as well as other colleges through their life. 

Typical college student fare. Nothing remarkable. But it was captured and collected and preserved. Noted. 


Tuesday, February 20, 2024

playing with power tools at the alter of venus by r. julius fildes (1993)

playing with power tools at the alter of Venus
r. julius fildes
Screaming Ego Press
(c)1993

A time piece of cyberpunk anarchist future. #10 of 200 printed. Drawing throughout by author as well. Interested bit of unexploded napalm. 

Friday, February 09, 2024

arcana by Ian Samuels (2002)


 Arcana

Ian Samuels

housepress

Calgary, CA

(c)2002

This is a handsome little book. This one is #17 of 60 printed. What I find most fascinating and telling is how an author can "forget" a publication like this when only two years later they publish a bigger book, one entitled The Ubiquitous Big which came out in 2004 on Coach House Books. I am going to add the bio that was offered at that time (see if you can find what's missing) :

"Ian Samuels is a former editor of filling Station magazine and currently works at WordFest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival. He is the author of one previous collection of poetry titled Cabra (Red Deer Press, 2000). He lives in his hometown of Calgary, where he is currently working on a mythic history of once-famous blues venue the King Edward Hotel."

Yeah, pretty incredible. 

write a poem about a tomato (??)


 write a poem about a tomato

wrote the seller : "a tomato art zine from ARTspace Chatham. Cute little zine collecting poems, illustrations and more about tomatoes, contributed by Chatham citizens."

wrote me, upon receiving it : 

I have not held a chapbook of such poor quality in a long time. JesusHChrist trees were killed to make this piece of trash. 

The concept could have been - but wasn't. I have to pulp it. It's terrible. Just NO