Arnett, Gogisgi/Carroll

Spells

Blue Creek, OH: Bloody Twin Press, 1995. First Edition. Softcover. "In the closed dark/ of the lodge I hear/ the rocks sing/ and sing again as/ water is poured, feel/ the spirits of rock/ and water searing,/ cleansing./ I pray in/ gratefulness./ This is the only peace/ there is." ("Sweat") A chapbook of poems by Gogisgi/Carroll Arnett (1927-1997), a Native American poet & professor of Cherokee-French ancestry who at one time was a Deer Clan Chief of the Overhill Band of the Cherokee Nation. This late work is slim but heavy with black humor & hard-earned Native American cultural wisdom. Some very short poems incorporate the title into a haiku-like statement: "America/ is cosmetics"; Indian Dancing/ is prayer in motion." Chapbook in sewn binding in glued over-wraps with flaps, haunting photo image of howling coyotes by Eddie Webb over covers & spine. Produced during September 1995 per colophon, in unknown limitation. An austerely beautiful production; & a very rare collectible in the profound Carroll canon. In very fine condition with only a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of over-wraps & spine; very light spotting to edges of text block; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #3774]

Price: $30.00