Napora, Joe

Poetry in the Middle: Notes on Land and Language

ISBN: (ISSN)01957848
Harrisburg, PA: Cumberland Journal, 1981. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. Inscribed & signed by Joe Napora to Thomas Rain Crowe. "...Joe Napora's first essay collection revolves around the interplay of land, speech and the body. Included in Poetry in the Middle are notes from an oral presentation Napora made at Indiana's Deertrack Poetry Festival, an overview of Paul Metcalf's work, and commentary on poet Ezra Pound and experimental musician Harry Partch, all of whom share Napora's concern with the metaphor of frontier." (from back cover) A learned, lengthy collection of writings on poetry by Joe Napora, the passionate & prolific poet, editor, publisher & activist. Presented as "...a special chapbook issue..." No. 13 (Summer 1981) of the Cumberland Journal, as noted on copyright page. The main text, "Poetry in the Middle," is a transcription of notes for a discussion conducted by Napora at Deertrack Poetry Festival at South Bend, Indiana during the summer of 1980 (see pg. 23). Interestingly, the word "the" is printed twice in the title on front cover. On blank yellow front endpaper, Napora has hand-written, signed & dated at time of publication: "8/21/81 Talawanda (partly encircled)/ For Tom/ in the middle/ of this love and friendship/ (signed) Joho(?)." "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). Crowe & Napora are long-standing close friends & kindred colleagues as this early inscription demonstrates, & the spelling of Napora's first name we presume is a nickname/ in-joke. A very rare collectible in the Napora oeuvre with very significant poet-to-poet association & provenance. In very fine condition with only mild rubbing, browning, spotting & a few tiny, non-penetrating dimple-pinholes to front, back covers & stapled spine; a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; mild browning & spotting to edges of text block esp. upper edge; staples beginning to rust with no discernible bleeding. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at mostly upper corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3870]

Price: $35.00