Cuson, Tom

Vision of the Burning Gate

San Francisco, CA: Parachute Salon Press, 1974. First Edition. Stapled Sheets. Inscribed & signed (twice) by Tom Cuson to Thomas Rain Crowe. "shot down from his fighter-bomber, he was a prisoner of war in north vietnam/ for seven & a half years. he learned french. he taught french. he wanted to/ be an astronaut. he followed orders. he survived. he came back after seven/ & a half years. he shook the president's hand. he did what they told him to do./ he tried to understand the anti-war movement. he was back five months when/ he committed suicide." ("An American Tragedy: Two Poems," part III) an early collection of poems by Tom Cuson (1944?-2007), a revered poet's-poet/polymath who during this period of the 1970s lived & worked in San Francisco. Large-format stapled sheets with front cover illustration by Diana Foldvary. On blank inner front cover, Cuson has hand-written & signed in bold black ink: "For Tom/ who knows the/ struggle & rebel(?) from the/ inside to the out to the beyond/ write it/ read it/ run it/ - (signed) Tom Cuson." Additionally, Cuson has hand-written his signature below his printed name on title-copyright page opposite inner front cover. Addressee "Tom" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the acclaimed poet & publisher who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s (see our book, Starting from San Francisco, item No. 3071, Deluxe Edition no. 3075). Cuson, who hosted coffee house poetry readings in the North Beach area during this period, certainly crossed paths with & was (as can be gleaned from this inscription) something of a mentor-comrade to Crowe though not as far as we know an official member of the Baby Beat group & is not directly mentioned by Crowe in SFSF. Cuson's mixing of poetry with fist-shaking topical activism & social commentary also makes him a kindred spirit of Crowe & his group. A stirring, exemplary Cuson collectible with very significant association & provenance. In fine condition with mild rubbing, spotting, browning & occasional small staining to illustrated front & blank back cover sheets (the latter much thicker than rest of sheets); mild wear & a few tiny bumps at all edges & corners; moderate spotting, browning to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves; light, sparse spotting at blank side margins & edges of same. Fine. [Item #3731]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00