Clark, Tom

Fractured Karma (Two Editions)

ISBN: 0876857934;0876857926
Santa Rosa, CA: Black Sparrow Press, 1990. Limited First Edition; First Softcover Edition. Hardcover; Softcover. Lettered edition signed & with an original signed drawing by Tom Clark; softcover edition with original signed drawing. "Death greets life in a moment of liftoff./ In this moment one may read divine intent,/ Less ominous than luminous, less fade than loft:/ A plum light, Mars violet, blent/ By angled sunlight in an expansive flooding." (from "Prelude: Waiting Room for the Beyond," Part 1, pg. 13) A collection of poems by Tom Clark (1941-2018), the great American poet, editor, novelist, biographer & artist. Originally associated with the New York School, by this point in his mid-later career Clark had achieved a mature variety of styles that are quite sui generis. The final section here, "He Was Born Blind...," is a story told in a series of short titled prose-poems (pgs. 97-163). We offer two very special editions of this volume: (1) One of 26 lettered copies signed by Clark & with an original signed drawing (of a coffee pot & mug at the edge of a table) on blank page opposite copyright page, this is copy "O." A sumptuous, exemplary Black Sparrow production in illustrated boards with patterned cloth spine. (2) First trade-format softcover edition, with an original illustration (again a coffee pot & mug on a table-top, larger than (1) & with different colors) signed by Clark on second, shorter title page. An extremely rare & desirable bundle with two unique versions of this important collectible in the Clark canon. (1) in very fine condition with only a few tiny spots in blank areas of front & back boards; very sparse spotting at edges of text block. Publisher's clear plastic protective jacket very fine with only slight rubbing to surfaces. Interior substantially mint. (2) also very fine with only a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; one short, faint line of ink(?) at/near upper right edge of front cover. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at upper corners of a few page leaves. An extra handling fee will be added for shipping due to the weight of this item. Very Fine. [Item #3864]

Price: $100.00