The Ancient Wars by Paul Zimmer (1981)

The Ancient Wars

Paul Zimmer

Slow Loris Press

Pittsburgh, PA

(c)1981

I find it curious that the book is dedicated to the publishers of all of his books. I never heard of Slow Loris Press, but found this online ; "The Slow Loris Press was an independent non-profit venture headed by Anthony and Patricia Petrosky. The Slow Loris Press focused on publishing a poetry magazine called the Rapport that evolved into a wider format with the start of the Slow Loris Reader (SLR) in 1978. The press also published poetry anthologies of various authors, as well as, the Rapport and SLR which drew upon numerous poets' work. The Slow Loris Press originated in Buffalo, New York, where Anthony Petrosky (also called Tony) taught at the Free School of Buffalo. When Anthony received a position at the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 the couple and magazine headed there. In February of 1978 the couple had a child named Matthew. By 1978 and the launching of the SLR, Patricia (also called Patty) Petrosky controlled most of the press's operations, including the editorship.

Financial support for the press came from magazine subscriptions, sales of its book and from available government grants. In the 1980s the press encountered trouble competing for National Endowment for the Humanities grants as well as more local funding options. In 1986, with two books by Martha Friedberg and Janet Sternberg in production, the press halted operations amid financial and personal troubles. Influenced by these setbacks the Slow Loris Press ceased operation in 1986."

The text is not secured to the cover, apparently by design. The poet as the main character throughout the poems. Interesting collection.