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. 

The Partial Autobiography of Jane Doe by Daniela Olszewska (2008)

 The Partial Autobiography of Jane Doe

Daniela Olszewska

dancing girl press

Chicago, IL

(c) 2008

Ms. Olszewska has gone on from this to being a professor at Loyola University and having a successful run of book publications. 

The poetry here is good but my ongoing problem with this small press are just as pronounced as ever. 

TERRIBLE presentation. I feel badly for anyone published by this press. 

The Main Cause of the Exodus by Dawn Lundy Martin (2014)

 The Main Cause of the Exodus

Dawn Lundy Martin

O'Clock Press

Philadelphia, PA

(c)2014

I happened across an interview of Ms. Martin after receiving this chapbook and it was revealing. Not only of her work as of 2016 and the tie-in with Split this Rock poetry festival which is held biannually in Washington, DC but also in her own involvement with 'Black Took Collective'. 

Naturally, I am not surprised that O'Clock Press is located in two Ivy League town, Philadelphia and Providence, RI and that the Waldrops are involved. 

So many chapbooks get overlooked, and forgotten. It's a terrible scenario in which worthwhile work disappears with barely a trace. Unless someone like me write about it. And I see myself more of a chronicler or archivist (and well, a publisher) at the present time than anything else.

This is great work. I need to read more of her poetry. 

Hot Whiskey 2 (2006)

 Hot Whiskey 2

Boulder, CO

(c) 2006

This is an anthology featuring Edward Sanders, Anne Waldman, Susan Briante, Dodge Bellamy, Travis Macdonald, CA Conrad, Logan Ryan Smith, Michelle McMahon, James Bertolino, Adam Clay, Clayton Eshleman, Dale Smith, Ron Silliman. 

The Bowling by Brandon Shimoda & Sommer Browning (2010)

 The Bowling

Brandon Shimoda & Sommer Browning

greying ghost press

(c) 2010

#3 of 100 printed. Greying Ghost Press has a way about them. Distinctive. This blending works. Ms. Browning is the cofounder of Flying Guillotine Press. I have one of their t shirts. 

Winnetou Old by Pierre Joris (1994)

 Winnetou Old

Pierre Joris

Meow Press

(c) 1994

Another one by this short-lived publisher. I feel extremely blessed to have all these chapbooks from all these exciting small press (sands in the hourglass)

Like getting this chapbook by Pierre Joris, all white space wondrous word play the way  so many others have attempt to present and it's all about the presentation of pages interrupted by words, without apologies even. 

So worth the finding and so worth the reading. Apparently there is a different cover than this (this one might have been a demo/review copy)

The actual cover looks like this :