Smith, Larry

After the T'ang Poets in Ohio

Huron, OH: Harmony Books, 2003. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Inscribed & signed (twice) by Larry Smith to Thomas Rain Crowe. "When I return to the college halls/ where I taught for thirty years,/ I meet the faces hurrying along/ their heads full or filling-/ a stream I swam for decades." ("Retiring (After T'ao Ch'ien (365-427),' first stanza, pg. 3) A collection of poems by Larry Smith, the acclaimed & prolific Ohio poet, translator, literary biographer (of Lawrence Ferlinghetti & Kenneth Patchen) & more. As Smith writes on copyright/ colophon page: "These poems, set in Ohio, follow the example of the ancient Chinese T'ang poets. In a long tradition of "After..." poems, they derive their inspiration from the poems of the great poets mentioned here. They were written in a time of war, when these seasoned voices meant a great deal." A beautiful handmade chapbook production with sheet of exquisite paper wrapped across front, back covers & spine. One of only 20 hand-numbered & signed copies, this is copy No. 14/20. Hand-number & full signature in thick black ink at upper margin of back cover. Additionally, on the title page, Smith has hand-written & signed in the same ink: "For Thomas-/ Peace/ (signed) Larry." "Thomas" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the noted 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). A particularly rare Smith collectible, further enriched by this poet-to-poet association & provenance. In very fine condition with only very slight rubbing/ loss of front & back cover texts (likely a result of the letterpress process as issued); a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine. Interior very fine with only bleeding of inscription onto recto of page leaf, very slightly effecting text of copyright/ colophon information; tiny bumps at mostly lower corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3969]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00