Twenty Grand by Guy Birchard (2003)

 Twenty Grand

the fin de siècle poems

Guy Birchard

Pressed Wafer Press

(c) 2003

rob mclennan's blog

Rob has written about the man, all I can say is that this thin sliver of nothing is worth the find. 

Eight Positive Trees by Karen Weiser (2002)

 Eight Positive Trees

Karen Weiser

Pressed Wafer 

Boston, MA

(c)2002

Even with a digital trail sometimes it's best to imagine where the shadow of a poet lingers now. After books published by the likes of Ugly Duckling Presse, a poet like this one can claim a space on the Academy of American Poets website and then not provide any info whatsoever. If you will, a white ghost instead of the traditional black. 

What I do know is that this chapbook by the now deceased and discontinued Pressed Wafer is on a table in front of me: half smiling. The booklet is divided into two sections, actually. "Out of the Body there are Planned Things" for Fanny Howe is first, a crash course for those (like me) unfamiliar with Ms. Weiser's work and then the somewhat misleading titled section "8 Positive Trees" taking it's name from a sculpture by Menashe Kadishman. (there are only 7 poems)

I love the brevity of her work here. It's refreshingly deep and subtly so. The words don't have to scream their message, the flow is more of a trickling creek - not the Mississippi River emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Historical Highlights About Colored Folk by Theodore S. Boone (?)

Historical Highlights About Colored Folk 

Theodore S. Boone

National Church Press

Albion, MI

This tiny (and I mean tiny) booklet is a reference booklet listing the accomplishments of Afro-American individuals through history. There were several editions and printings of this booklet. This particular copy has a pink inner page between the cover and the text. Maybe that's how they decided to tell the editions apart (?)

Midnight Antelopes by Darlene Gold (2003)

 

Midnight Antelopes

Darlene Gold

Pressed Wafer Press

(c) 2003

It's impossible to write about any book published by Pressed Wafer without mentioning William Corbett, the co-founder of the press who died in 2018. Pressed Wafer ended when he did. Sadly. 

The cover image of this chapbook was provided by Brenda Iijima. 

The torch has been passed, not extinguished. 

UU got hold of Tao by MMGK (?)

 

apparently this individual has written a number of these items, I am acknowledging that I found a few of them and took this one home to "review". However, the paper was wasted. The effort is unmerited. And that's all I have to say about that. (Forrest Gump)

13 Poems by Zack Haber

 13 Poems

Zack Haber

self published

undated

I actually have some history with this poet. I only found this particular "little sliver of nothing" in the Reston Used Bookshop in Reston, VA on 10/24/21 while I was was too early for a poetry reading that I was one of the features for. And there on the bottom shelf of the poetry section, blocked by two stacks of books on the floor in front of the bottom shelf and I recognized the name immediately. "Wait a minute!"

In 2008 I started a poetry series in a funky (but ultimately poorly managed) art space called the Soundry. The series was called "Poetry Lab". It ran for a few years. One of the earliest poets to read as part of that series was a young man named Zack Haber. He had a book out entitled To Carry You Being which was published locally by Jan Holton. The book was published in Reston. It was Haber's hometown. It stated that To Carry You Being was his first book. But this earlier, undated, little sliver of nothing seems to have that honor. 

Shortly after reading in Vienna, Va for me at the Poetry Lab, Haber moved out to the Bay. He now teaches and lives in Oakland, CA. 

Tele Trance by Ross Priddle (2012)

 Tele Trance

Ross Priddle

oma darlin' press

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

(c) 2012

Mini-sized chapbook I had to write about because, com'on ! oma darlin' press? Huckleberry Hound? Clementine?

Ross Priddle has the Bentspoon Blog in Calgary. It's mini-mighty-fine indeed. 

I4000 Facts by Norma Cole (2009)

 I 4000 Facts

Norma Cole

a + bend press

Davis, CA

(c) 2009

It could be read as a single poem per page but since there are no titles nor a page count, it could also be read as a single poem with deliberate pauses between verses. It works as both, I believe. Intriguing all the same. 

Post Nativity by Joe Hall (2012)

 Post Nativity 

Joe Hall

Publishing Genius

Baltimore, MD

(c) 2012

Tiny booklet, interesting words. 

9 poems by Cate Peebles (2014)

9 poems

Cate Pebbles

Eye for an Iris Press

Brooklyn, NY 

(c)2014

Inventive wordplay and images makes this unique little item completely worth the find. Honestly. 

 

History by Chris Martin (2014)

 History

Chris Martin

Coffee House Press

(c)2014

10 page staple bound single poem small sized chapbook. (try saying all that in one breath) Fairly unique and terribly rare. 

hYh? by Gary Barwin (2012)

 

Inside the envelope that was from Factory Hollow Press was this even smaller item from a Gary Barwin and "phafours" of Ottawa, Canada. This item is smaller than a postcard and highly visual. It's not the sort of item that finds its way into collections generally, it's easily lost in transport. Could be used as a bookmark. 

I could not easily reproduce the name of this item, it's second "letter" is an upside down 'h'. Curiouser and curiouser. 

Valley Visions : Writings and Art from the Rio Abajo (2007)

 Valley Visions

Writings and Art from the Rio Abajo 2006-2007

University of New Mexico Valencia Campus

(c)2007

College students writing and art. Where are they now? 

private party by Heather Christle (2013)

 

private party

Heather Christle

this mini-sized staple bound chapbook has no publication history at all anywhere in it. It's like she doesn't exist..... but, 

She does exist - at least on Tumblr

https://heatherchristle.tumblr.com

update : 10/18/21

I was going through the large packet of items I received from Iowa State and found an envelope from "Factory Hollow Press" which I promptly researched and in their catalogue from 2013 was - aha! - private party by Heather Christle. 

poemas de Juan Ramon Jimenez (no year stated)

 

poemas de Juan Ramon Jimenez

editoriol horizonte

Medellin, Columbia

no stated year

Little sliver of nothing, printed in Columbia. In Spanish. Handsome staple-bound oddly sized number as well. 

Pete Hoffman Days by David Harrison Horton (2003)

Pete Hoffman Days

Pinball Publishing 

Portland, OR

(c) 2003

David Harrison Horton is a Beijing-based writer, artist, editor, and curator. He is the author of the chapbooks Pete Hoffman Days (Pinball) and BeiHai (Nanjing Poetry). His poetry has recently appeared in In Parentheses, swifts & slows, Spittoon, and Otoliths.

This is one of the bios for the poet. I want to focus a bit more on the layout and design of the book itself though since it is uniquely sized with a open cover I have not seen before. So I want to acknowledge Laura Brian and Austin Whipple of Pinball for this design. Very well done. 

Eunoia by Michael Nicoloff & Alli Warren (2011)

 Eunoia

Michael Nicoloff & Alli Warren

Abraham Lincoln Press

Ashland, OR

(c) 2011

Both of these poets have been achieving a "rep" : 

ALLI  WARREN’s first book, Here Come the Warm Jets, was published by City Lights. Previous chapbooks include Grindin’ (Lew Gallery), Acting Out (Editions Louis Wain), and Well-Meaning White Girl (Mitzvah Chaps). With Michael Nicoloff, she wrote Eunoia (Abraham Lincoln Press) and Bruised Dick. She edits the magazine Dreamboat, co-edits the Poetic Labor Project and formerly co-curated The (New) Reading Series at 21 Grand. Alli lives in Oakland. 

MICHAEL NICOLOFF is the author of the chapbooks "Punks", Mixed Grill (Monologue Version), and I Hope You Die, as well as the CD "Punkses" (After Ketjak). With Alli Warren, he wrote Bruised Dick and Eunoia. Formerly a curator of the (New) Reading Series at 21 Grand and Artifact, he presently serves on the board of Small Press Traffic and is an organizer with the Bay Area Public School.

I found nothing about this apparently micro-press, Abraham Lincoln Press. 

These two poets have merged their work so seamlessly in this collection I have no idea who's words are whose. If words have ownership, which they don't. Interesting chapbook. 

Neverheart by Loren Walker (2021)

 Neverheart

Loren Walker

dancing girl press & studio

Chicago, IL 

(c)2021

No one is perfect. And I am starting with myself, I am a no one who is also not perfect. I am starting this little piece with a tiny bit of "me-ism" in the sense that I am a flawed person who, among my many pursuits and interests, collects and writes about chapbooks. And I have seen some amazing work done on this small scale production because - honestly - making chapbooks is not high end, large budget book production. It isn't for the faint at heart or for those with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. It's for the dedicated, the committed; those living and thriving on the banks of the literary river that comprise this art form going back to cuneiform. To Ur. To the beginning of humans writing down their thoughts and deeds at the dawn of our being on this planet. 

Kristy Bowen has created this press and puts on her Sisyphus skin every time she brings out a chapbook of a female artist (that's what dancing girl press does; work with female artists). I applaud her for that. 

But as a publisher myself, I would have hoped that after nearly 20 years of doing this, it might have evolved out of the Xeroxed production era and this one hasn't. The cover image is good but the paper stock is very Xerox. I know this paper stock since I have used it myself. The words on the page are somewhat demeaned by the quality of the paper the words are printed on. As El Lissitzky wrote back in 1931, The book must be the unified work of the author and the designer. As long as this is not the case, splendid exteriors will constantly be produced for unimportant contents, and visa-versa.

"prime cuts" by Hot Whiskey Press (2006)

 "prime cuts"

Hot Whiskey Press 

Boulder, CO

(c) 2006

My apologies to those involved with this anthology. I take it to be an anthology. It lists poets and states that some of the poems were previously published elsewhere. It is a unique item to be sure. I am apologizing for titling the collection "prime cuts" since that is what it appears to be showing in the cover image and it does not actually list a title that I have seen anywhere. I hope my temporary title will suffice in the moment. 

This is indeed an interesting hand sewn anthology of work published by Hot Whiskey Press, a press I had not heard of before. A handful of the poets I have heard of and have read before : Linh Dinh, Elizabeth Robinson, Clayton Eshleman, Lisa Jarnot - but some were new to me. Wonderful mix. 

Sri Kundalini Sakthi - Serpent Power by Late Y. Subbaraya Sharma (1992)

 Sri Kundalini Sakthi - Serpent Power

Late Y. Subbaraya Sharma

Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashram

Bangalore, India 

(c) 1992

One of only 1,000 copies printed. This is a chapbook in the sense that it is staple-bound and of the dimensions of a chapbook but it is also 102 pages, which means it NOT a chapbook and yet I am including it because the language is exquisite and the images as beautiful. It is a profoundly charming book.