Embroideries by Denise Levertov (1969)

 Embroideries

Denise Levertov

Black Sparrow Press

(c) 1969

Back in the beginning of Black Sparrow, books were hand-sewn chapbooks. This one is signed. Beautiful artifact of a time gone by. 

Terrorism is What Whale by Michael Sikkema & Elizabeth Workman (2014)

 Terrorism is What Whale

Michael Sikkema & Elizabeth Workman

Grey Book Press

(c)2014

A chapbook like this is a broader story than what is contained in the 39 pages of staple-bound beauty that as an object it is. It's a story of the publisher who runs the press and the two poets who collaborated on the melding of the work. It's about the cover designer, Erik Brandt, as well as Scott Sweeney, the publisher. It's an entire package. And at the very least an acknowledgment of their collective accomplishment. Which I just did. 

The Sky The

 The Sky The

Michael Sikkema

serif of nottingham editions

Hamilton, Ontario CANADA

(c)2012

It's interesting to "look back" at someone's work whom you are just now getting to know and they have moved to having novels being published. Interesting little press. Interesting little collection and I especially like the poem "how to explain your politics at a party" since it still feels unfortunately relevant today. 

Nonstop Pop by Becca Klaver (2012/13)

 

Nonstop Pop

Becca Klaver

Bloof Books

part of the 2012/13 season

#96 of 100 printed. Off-kilter sized hand sewn chapbook. Bloof was a thing doing a thing at a time when things were done and appreciated in Brooklyn. I almost see the ghost of Frank O'hara in the background. A lot of "I did this and I did that". Whereas "I lost interest". Such is life. Just sayin'

Beneath the Gravel Weight of Stars by Mimi German (2022)

Beneath the Gravel Weight of Stars

Mimi German

The Poetry Box

Portland, OR

(c) 2022

I need to state upfront in case you didn't know, but I am deeply involved and committed to the study and collection of Beat Generation material. I am a member of several Facebook groups that are about the Beats (some specifically about Burroughs, others focused on Kerouac) and on one of these groups a few months ago now was a review of a book by the poet Mimi German. The review was entitled Beneath the Gravel Weight of Stars and the Beat mythology of the supertramp and it appears on the blog of "Karlostheunhappy". 

I read the review and decided at once to get a copy of the book. Once the book arrived I reached out to the poet and found out that she was originally from Philadelphia and that we had a mutual friend. 

The book itself is 37 pages and has a spine so thin no text can appear on the spine. So, it's a chapbook by my reckoning. The book has an interesting history. The Poetry Box edition is actually the second incarnation of the book. It was initially titled Eyes of the Horse Hair and was an honorable mention in the 2020 Hopper Poetry Prize announcement. 

The review by Karlos is far superior to anything I might add, except that I have a correspondence now with the poet/activist in Portland want to praise the work she has accomplished, both on the page and in the community. 

(in the space where I was) by dana guthrie martin (2012)

 (in the space where i was)

dana guthrie martin

Hyacinth Girl Press

(c)2012

Really like the cover art. The presentation of this material though is less than stellar. 

You Bring Your Whole Life to the Material by Mark Wallace (1992)

You Bring Your Whole Life to the Material

Mark Wallace

Leave Books

Buffalo, NY

(c)1992

From the beginning of this endeavor I have been interested in following a trajectory of a writer/press through the publishing history of a book/books. While it began with the sad tale (of which I was unaware when I just wrote of it in 2006) borne still by Michele Waters whose stolen child haunts her forever, many of my bloggers are merely snapshots, polaroids of a moment in time. A Singular captured frame. 

But this is the exception, a chapbook by an author who has a history that can be traced through his own chapbook history. (how odd indeed), This early effort of Mark Wallace's was published in Buffalo by Leave Books. Wallace was at SUNY/Buffalo. By 1994 he was the host of a poetry series in Washington DC called the ruthless grip (which still chugs along) where he interacted with a young poet newly arrived in town named Buck Downs who started his own publishing effort, which in turn published a chapbook by Mr. Wallace. Due to his time running ruthless grip he also became friends with Rod Smith who runs Edge Books which published a few of his books as well. 

I have captured a bio of Mr. Wallace from the early aughts: 

Mark Wallace is the author of more than ten books and chapbooks of poetry, including Nothing Happened and Besides I Wasn't There and Sonnets of a Penny-A-Liner. Temporary Worker Rides A Subway won the New American Poetry Award and is forthcoming from Sun and Moon. His first collection of fiction, The Big Lie, was published by Avec Books in Fall 2000. His critical articles 
and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, and along with Steven Marks, he edited Telling It Slant: Avant Garde Poetics of the 1990s (University of Alabama Press) a collection of 26 essays by different writers on the subject of contemporary avant garde poetry and poetics. With Juliana Spahr, Kristin Prevallet, and Pam Rehm, he edited A Poetics of Criticism, a collection of poetry essays in non-standard formats published by Leave Books in 1994. He runs the Ruthless Grip Poetry Series and the "dcpoets" e-mail list in Washington, D.C., where he teaches at area colleges including Georgetown University, The George Washington University, and American University.

and from his page on Amazon: 

Mark Wallace is the author and editor of a number of books of fiction, poetry, and essays. His most recent novel, Crab, was published in 2017 by Submodern Books. Other recent publications include a book-length prose poem, Notes from the Center on Public Policy, and a novel, The Quarry and The Lot. Temporary Worker Rides a Subway won the 2002 Gertrude Stein Poetry Award and was published by Green Integer Books. His critical articles and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, and he has co-edited two essay collections, Telling It Slant: Avant Garde Poetics of the 1990s, and A Poetics of Criticism.

The List of Dangers by Maggie Smith (2010)

 The List of Dangers

Maggie Smith

The Kent State University Press

Kent, Ohio

(c) 2010

18 pages - a glimpse, a pause, a moment foreshadowed. Her future previewed. Captured as though a polaroid picture. Begun with this. 

the werld by Claire Becker (2010)

 the werld

Claire Becker

Horse Less Press

(c) 2010

Unpaginated staple-bound chapbook. The werds float. 

Estrella's Prophecies : III 22 Shocking Poems by David Baratier (2004)

 Estrella's Prophecies : III (22 Shocking Poems)

David Baratier 

Luna Bizonte Prodz

Columbus, OH

(c)2004

This is simply an extremely bizarre booklet. Words beyond these are meaningless. 

Pneumatic Antiphonal by Sylvia Legris (2013)

 Pneumatic Antiphonal

Sylvia Legris

New Directions Poetry Pamphlet #4

(c) 2013

Quite the coup to be published by New Directions. 47 pages. Illustration in book by author. Cover art by Office of Paul Sahre. Interior design by Erik Rieselbach. 47 pages. Have your dictionary ready. 

Lament by Gina Myers (?)

 Lament

Gina Myers

unidentified publisher

signed by poet inside

#8 of 36 copies printed. Broadside. Staple-bound

more mystery than information. I am intrigued. 

A collection of ballads and folk songs Burl Ives (1946)

 a collection of ballads and folk songs

Burl Ives

Decca Records

(c)1946

This is a booklet that came with a 1946 vinyl record. Full of song lyrics. It's a booklet that I am counting as a "chapbook" since I have seen far too many chapbooks with spine so tiny that no words can be printed on them. 

Two more chapbooks by Megan Kaminski (2013 & 2014)

 This Place

Megan Kaminski

Dusie Kollektiv

(c) 2013

&

Wintering Prairie

Megan Kaminski

Dusie Kollektiv

(c) 2014

Published in Zurich, Switzerland

Just to show those lovely forgotten chapbooks that Ms. Kaminski doesn't acknowledge these days. 

Wichman Cometh by Ben Pease (2011)

Wichman Cometh

Ben Pease

Monk Books

New York City

(c)2011

This is a hybrid twice over. It's 41 pages with a spine, okay, so I technically don't call it a chapbook but the spine has no writing on it so what's the point of that? Dead empty space on a black spine which emphasizes the "tiny sliver of nothing" in black space that I am certain was not a conscious thought of the publisher here but - the book contains, in addition to some interesting language formations and topography has addition visual topography that mirrors and reenforces the words in a playful and almost harmonious way. The subtitle of the book, "Selections from a Blockbuster in Verse", ties the threads together well. And the last line of the last poem does not have a period, suggesting to me at least, that there is not "ending" like a good French film which stops without "concluding". Or, say the ending of the American film "Sideways". The "ending" is what you, the viewer, project it to be; the movie doesn't give it to you. It's satisfying in its unending-ness. 

 

WIZ (2011)

 

WIZ ("Ben"?)

The Song Cave

#57 of 100 printed. Signed by "Ben" who is also WIZ or not. This is the 22 book from the Song Cave. Hand printed, I mean, the entire book is written in the author's hand. I have not witnessed anything... well, I have actually but WOW. This is bizarre

Shrivel and Bloom by Emily Murman (2021)

 

Shrivel and Bloom 

Emily Murman

dancing girl press & studio

Chicago, IL 

(c) 2021

Emily Murman is a poet & educator from Chicago. In April 2019, she was awarded the Gail DeHerder Memorial Prize in Creative Writing. She holds an MFA in poetry from National University. She is the author of two chapbooks, “SHRIVEL AND BLOOM" (Dancing Girl Press, June 2021) and “I want your emergency" (Selcouth Station Press, July 2021).

Some really good poems in this thin slice of heaven. 

then again, they are all mysteries

 Since I started this divergence, this deep dive into the murky depths of small press publishing of staple bound (almost all of them) book of less than 50 pages, I have listed and mentioned and speculated about the poet and the press and the printer and the first recipient of each book. 

Each is unique in its singularity. I have only the single one of each. There is a singular relationship that exists between us all (author/publisher/printer/reader) that, since they are chapbooks,  are never really considered in the same way a novel by an established author from a prestigious publishing house is. 

It began with a book written by a woman who had her daughter stolen at a concert in San Francisco during the 1960s. A tragedy she has never fully recovered from (and how could she, how could any mother?). Some of the books I have written about were by poets and writers who have become well known, sometimes deciding in their own biographies to "forget to mention" the chapbooks that came before their first official books. Their first literary prize. Their first teaching assignments at the major universities that they now hail from. 

My mission or calling (if it is one) is different from the library in Brautigan's The Abortion. These books have all been published, some by the author themselves but all have seen the print of ink. All are physical objects because I do not consider e-texts to be proper books. 

And there are many people to thank for the horde of chapbooks I have now, and someday will pass forward. Daniel Nester, another gentleman from upstate New York, a righteous dude from Iowa City, and others along the way. Along the time. Between the margins. As one will. 

Visions by Mark Turner (1980)

 Visions

Mark Turner

(unknown/self published?)

(c) 1980

Every once in awhile I get a chapbook of poetry that as much mystery as any in a novel written by the best writer in their field. Not dramatic conclusion, I hope, but a mystery none the less. 

There is no publisher info anywhere in the book. Nothing on the back cover. The booklet was not trimmed so it was unlikely to have been a professional printing. 21 pages, staple bound, white paper. White cover stock. A bit dirty closer to the fold. There is a Mark Turner (cognitive scientist) whose first book was published in 1987. And there is a fair amount of repetition in the writing. But I can not presume to know. So, until further information appears; a mystery it will remain. 

Favored Daughter by Megan Kaminski (2011)

 Favored Daughter

Megan Kaminski

dancing girl press

Chicago, IL

(c) 2011

I have to say this is one of the best books I have seen from dancing girl. It's a bit of a shame that Ms. Kaminski doesn't mention her chapbooks published prior to 2012. There is a lot of good poetry before. 

Dynamic Positioning by Juliana Spahr (2012)

 Dynamic Positioning

Juliana Spahr

Belladonna 

Brooklyn, NY

(c) 2012

Chaplet #144 was published to commemoration of her performance with T C Tolbert on April 3, 2012 at Dixon Place (NYC). 11 pages. I have a number of Belladonna chapbooks and printed material. I took in a reading of Ms. Spahr at Georgetown University in DC. She definitely has a style. 

Before the Next Ice by Lisa J. Cihlar (2022)

 Before the Next Ice Age

Lisa J. Cihlar

Crisis Chronicles Press

Cleveland, OH

(c) 2022

Technicalities aside (this is a chapbook with a spine), this chapbook is a great read written by a talented poet and published by an interesting press out of Cleveland, OH. 

27 pages of cool prose poetry. Cover art by the poet herself as well. 

Glad to have it. Glad to have read it. 

If you know anything about Cleveland Ohio small press history, one name reverberated across the city and that name was d. a. levy. John Burroughs isn't exactly a replacement so much as someone who has picked up that baton and begun to carry it forward. Good for him. Good for publishing. Here's to Crisis Chronicles Press. 

Odalisque by Ben Fama (2014)

 Odalisque

Ben Fama

Bloof Books

#37 of 100 printed. Good presentation. Feels like a "best of" without it be said as such. 

Notes on Melancholia by M. A. Vizsolyi (2013)

Notes on Melancholia

M. A. Vizsolyi 

Monk Books

New York, NY

(c) 2013

#9/200, good writing. Good presentation. 

Sea Ranch (Winter 2012)

Sea Ranch (Winter 2012)

Elizabeth Robinson / Elaine Kahn

The Song Cave

(2012)

Sea Ranch is a quarterly journal. It publishes these journals through The Song Cave. There is a website. This booklet is a combo of poems by Ms. Robinson and Ms. Kahn. The booklet has a different cover image for each side, telling the reader whose work they are about to be reading. 

Ms. Robinson is an established and award winning poet. Ms. Kahn is a LA-based poet, musician, and artist. The work here is a little slice of each poets' work. 'Nuff said. 

Don't Try This On Your Piano or am i still standing here with my hair down

 

Don't Try This On Your Piano

or am i still standing here with my hair down

Steven Karl & Angela Veronica Wong

Lame House Press

Atlanta, GA

I just love this wrap around cover by Liz Wolf. This is #75 of 120 printed copies. Hand sewn. Presentation is excellent. In order to achieve the heft necessary for this book they single sided the poems which feels like a cheat to me, but what on earth do I know? 

I have written about Ms. Wong before in a chapbook published by Flying Guillotine Press and Ms. Myers as well I mentioned two years ago about a chapbook she published in 2007. 

Steven Karl is the author of Sisters (Noemi Press) and is the Editor of Sink Review. 

Saint Monica by Mary Biddinger (2011)

 Saint Monica

Mary Biddinger

Black Lawrence Press

Pittsburgh, PA

(c)2011

Black Lawrence is a big deal, slick producing publisher of quality poetry in a chapbook sized format. Books with spines that have writing on them. Even if only 41 pages tiny. It's a wonderfully produced book. Of poems with a maniacally repetitious similar title scheme.  Which, you might conclude, I did not favor. 

Fashion Blast Quarter by Krystal Languell/Chalky Undertaste by Emily Skillings (2014)

Fashion Blast Quarter / Chalky Undertaste

Krystal Languell / Emily Skillings

Flying Object

Hadley, MA

(c) 2014

Unusually sized folding broadside. Amazingly, this piece is fantastically made. 
 

Three Poems by Ross Runifola (2012)

 Three Poems

Ross Runifola

University of Buffalo Press

(c) 2012

This is a special commemorative booklet in celebration of National Poetry Month in the US that the University of Buffalo has done for the previous 3 years. Celebrating poets living in Buffalo, NY. One of 300 printed. 

two pamphlets by Danniel Schoonebeek (2012)

 Two Pamphlets

Danniel Schoonebeek

Greying Ghost

(c) 2012

I guess that means 4 poems in two tiny tinies. #42 for those counting. Both are numbered 42. 

Discard Before Using by Buck Downs (2010)

Discard Before Using

Buck Downs

self published

Washington, DC

(c) 2010

extremely thin chapbook  with an extremely clever title. 

Gary Gygax by John Sakkis (2008)

 Gary Gygax

John Sakkis 

Cy Gist Press Chapbook CGP11

Astoria, NY

(c) 2008

For the D&D crowd. You know who you are. 

Voices from the Forest by Lisel Mueller (1977)

 Voices From the Forest

Lisel Mueller

Juniper Press

La Crosse, WI

(c)1977

This offering from Juniper Press is not as stellar as another in my collection (presentation-wise) but the words have borne fruit and are succulent. Lovely banquet. 

How to Mend a Broken Heart with Vengeance by Leigh Stein (2008)

 How to Mend a Broken Heart With Vengeance

Leigh Stein

dancing girl press

Chicago, IL

(c) 2008

It would not surprise me at all if the cover was meant to be torn as shown, but I think instead that it's analogous to the cheap production of the work presented by the press. I have previously stated how badly I feel for the poets who were published by dancing girl, and here is yet another example of the quality. Or lack thereof. I hope the poet has been published better elsewhere. 

Gemology by Megan Kaminski (2012)

 Gemology 

Megan Kaminski

little red leaves textual editions

Houston, TX

(c) 2012

This is a beautiful little object, Designed and hand sewn by Dawn Pendergast. Incredible work by the designer and incredible words by the poet. What a find!

ATM by Christopher Salerno (2010)

 ATM

Christopher Salerno

Horse Less Press

(c) 2010

The limited exposure I have had with this press has been favorable. This one is a dud. 

Z " L : For the Family of CJ Martin & Julia Drescher (2013)

 Z " L : For The Family of CJ Martin & Julia Drescher

created during the summer 2013

assembled & printed by Ashsmith, NB TX

covers Letterpresses by Michael Cross Oakland, CA

with Special Thanks to : Michelle Detorie & Kyle Schlesinger

in Memory of Tommy Martin & Ann Davis

This is an intentionally Xeroxed (style) book that technically is not a chapbook because it is 73 pages long but is staple-bound, so I am splitting the difference here. 

The work of many people are captured here in Xerox artfulness and Chinese marker writing, but yet the cover is a mismatch with the near dispensable pages within. 

A very odd collection in that regard. I am not familiar with many of the people who lovingly submitted their work but there are few names I know - cheers to them. 

mistranslating Neruda by Matt Mason (2002)

 mistranslating Neruda

Matt Mason 

New Michigan Press

Tuscaloosa, AL

(c) 2002

I first wrote about this press (briefly noted) in 2011 when I acknowledged Stephanie Anderson's chapbook In the Particular Particular which was the 2006 chapbook contest winner for this press. 

I didn't write about the curiosity I had for a press with the name it has being located in Alabama, but since my writing in 2011 the press has moved to Arizona. Making additional sense (?)

I am going to paste here a longer review of this chapbook since the reviewer captures the essence of this book better than I : "…Mistranslating Neruda is Matt Mason’s homage to Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Not only does Mason mimic the sequence in length, but he also tries duplicating the inventive use of language: Like angel hair pasta waving goodbye to the boiling water, / the sausages from the refrigerator fly into your hands. // Innumerable hearts of the sausage / fortify inside the rare silences of young love. Equally emblematic for the rest of the sequence, Mason writes, early on: Body of a woman, white as flour, as egg whites, / you break into the world with the immediacy of warm cookies. Lines like these make Mason’s chapbook a hoot to read. While he actively tries to mimic Neruda, to “mistranslate” him, Mason’s own sense of absurdity takes off, pulling the reader along. These poems also display the depths of Mason’s imagination, but do they stand up to the master inspiring them? No, but they weren’t intended to, either. In his preface, Mason claims everybody has read a horrible act of translation, be it in high school English texts or elsewhere, and this chapbook was to be a satire on “mistranslations.” That doesn’t change the joy of language Mason revels in, and to this collection, that’s a gift.” –Rich Ristow, from https://richristow.wordpress.com/tag/mistranslating-neruda/

The Fight Is With Phantoms by Sy Kahn (1966)

 

The Fight Is With Phantoms

Sy Kahn

East & West, Inc. 

(c)1966

I found this volume at the unfortunately named "bookstore", The Avocado Pit, in Stauton, VA in March 2022. I would never recommend anyone going into that bookstore. It did have some (overpriced) gems like this one by a writer I never heard of before. Linked to his website above. 

Like the presentation of this volume, always appreciate a cover that feels like something. One of 750 printed. Very nice indeed.  

The Son by Carrie Enter (2009)

 The Son

Carrie Etter

Oystercatcher Press

Norfolk, UK

(c) 2009

Oystercatcher is the brainchild of Peter Hughes who started this press in 2008. I am not familiar with the majority of the poets published by this press but if the presentation of this chap is any indication of the effort involved, I recommend a closer examination by anyone interested. 

The Failure Age by Amanda Montei (2014)

 The Failure Age 

Amanda Montei

Bloof Books

somewhere in America

(c)2014

Bloof Books is a fascinating story of exploration and mystery. Their website features a police blotter of creative folks that the press has published throughout the years. This particular volume has a fuzzy bearskin rug on the front cover (no actual bear was harmed in the making of this cover) #32 of 100 printed. 

Handsewn. Oddly sized. Screams UNIQUE. 

Surreal Freedom Blues by Sunil Freeman ( date unknown)

Surreal Freedom Blues

Sunil Freeman

The Argonne Hotel Press

This is one of a printing of 500 copies made after the original publication of it in 1999. It's a reprint of a reprint. Pixelated as hell. Made on the fly, done cheaply but I have to respect the moxie behind the effort. 

I wrote about this press 12 years ago now when writing about Bernadette Geyer's chapbook published by this same publisher. Geyer's was entitled "What Remains". It a worthwhile question even now. I respect the fact that this press published a number of Washington DC area poets. They collectively represent a snapshot in time and place. 

CLICK

Tree Taking Root by David Wilk (1978)

 Tree Taking Root

David Wilk

Truck Press

St. Paul, MN

(c) 1978

This is one of 500 copies printed by Karl Young of Membrane Press in Milwaukee, WI. 2nd printing. Beautifully produced book. Staple-bound. 

Some of the poems in this collection are laid out in a way that I like, sort of haphazardly or random but in all likelihood intentional and with purpose, both visually and to allow the reader to "breathe" as the poet himself would. 

I am not familiar with Mr. Wilk's work but this is really an overlooked gem. 

Nods by Carrie Lorig (2013)

 Nods

Carrie Lorig

Magic Helicopter Press

Northampton, MA

(c) 2013

2nd printing

This is a pretty amazing chapbook. Visually, experimentally, a complete package. OMG yes!

Young Friend by Leopoldine Core (2013)

 Young Friend

Leopoldine Core

Perfect Lovers Press

Cincinatti, OH

(c) 2013

This press makes accidental covers on purpose. I mean, I wrote about a different book by the same press where they did the same thing with the cover. Like it's a thing. It's a thing, to be sure. A visually challenging thing. 

"I'll die" : the last words of the last poem in this brief collection. Okay, well, see you!

By These Tokens by Mark Wallace (1990)

 

By These Tokens

Mark Wallace

Triangle Press

Buffalo, NY

(c) 1990

Mark Wallace is the author and editor of more than fifteen books and chapbooks of poetry, fiction, and essays. His most recent poetry collection is the book-length prose poem, Notes from the Center on Public Policy (Altered Scale Press, 2014). He lives in San Diego.

But this is early Mark. Experimental Mark. Interesting Mark. 

This Is What It Is Like To Be Loved By Me by Jared White (2013)

This Is What It Is Like To Be Loved By Me

Jared White

Bloof Books

(c) 2013

2nd chapbook created during the 2012-2013 season. Hand sewn. Oddly sized. It looks like a waitress's order sheet. #95 of 100 printed. Bloof does some unusual stuff, like the dimensions of this book and how after they have parted ways with all 100 copies of this book, for example, they digitalize it for future consumption. It's prose poetry. Kind of. Meh. 

Work by Dan Boehl (2007)

 Work

Dan Boehl

Pavement Saw Press

Columbus, OH

(c) 2007

Winner of the Pavement Saw chapbook contest in 2006. Great first step. Great early collection. 

The Grand Mcluckless Road Atlas by John Domini (2013)

 The Grand Mcluckless Road Atlas

John Domini

The Pedestrian Press 

Oakland, CA

(c) 2013

This is the second book in a now much published career of Mr. Domini. Was not familiar with the press prior to and still have questions about its internet presence but the work here is interesting. And "interesting" is a plus.