Lane, John

The Mad Kayaker

ISBN: 9781912477418
London, England: Eyewear Publishing Ltd., 2018. First Edition. Glued in Wrappers. Inscribed & signed by John Lane to Thomas Rain Crowe. "The Mad Kayaker is a poet's account of his relationship with wildness both fluvial and human, exploring inner and outer worlds. John Lane's language negotiates the rapids, balancing, with deft control, on the torrents and in the depths. This is a work of maturity, poise, and natural exhilaration." (back cover) A chapbook of poems by John Lane, the acclaimed South Carolinian poet, environmentalist & educator. As Lane writes in a note following this collection, "These poems were written with Wendell Berry's The Mad Farmer Poems in mind. Berry gave many poets of my generation a unique poetic and emotional language of prophecy. But the Mad Kayaker is no agrarian. He speaks from the American suburbs and celebrates his love of wild free-flowing rivers- one of the remaining things among the Thousand Things worth fighting for in a world that seems to be set against them." (pg. 21) Chapbook-format softcover original, part of UK publisher's Goggles Eyewear Pamphlet Series. On the title page, Lane has hand-written, signed & dated during year of publication: "Tom-/ The beat goes on.../ another brick in the wall.../ we ride together.../ (signed) John/ Sept 2018/ The Tower." "Tom" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the noted North Carolinian 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). Crowe & Lane are long-standing close friends, kindred poetic spirits & colleagues rooted in their beloved Carolinas. A rare & desirable Lane collectible with very significant association & provenance. In very fine condition with only very slight rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3836]

Price: $35.00 save 20% $28.00