Lewis, Richard

Shaking the Grass for Dew

ISBN: 1883197147
Cullowhee, NC: New Native Press, 2008. First Edition. Softcover. Signed by publisher Thomas Rain Crowe. "Shaking the Grass for Dew can be seen, perhaps, as the modern Western equivalent of the great nature poets of the East- Wang Wei and Han-Shan come to mind. Richard Lewis writes a kind of surreal metaphysics untamed and unlike anything being written in America today. The Neruda of Tao-inspired poems, Lewis's longer Issa-like, haiku-like poems are fresh with the dew from whence they came: a place deep in the spirit of nature. An amazing and timely vision coming from someone who has lived most of his life in New York City." (back cover) A collection of poems by Richard Lewis, a poet & educator who is the founder & director of the Touchstone Center for Children in NYC. Each of the many short poems is titled by its first line or stanza. With front cover reproduction of classic Chinese calligraphic artwork, "Picture," by Wang Fangyu; artful frontispiece & back cover (background) photograph, "Gamma Grass," by J. Burgess. Softcover original, first edition, first printing as stated on copyright page & as indicated by number sequence thereon. A beautiful production of New Native Press, the imprint of 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). On the copyright page, just below & very slightly overlapping with reference to himself & NNP, Crowe has hand-written his signature in bold blue ink. A rare & rewarding Lewis collectible with association & provenance of its publisher- kindred poet. In very fine condition with only very light rubbing & a few faint scratches to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; previous seller's (or publisher's?) title-barcode sticker affixed near lower right corner of back cover; light rubbing-smudging at upper edge of text block. Interior very fine with only miniscule bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #4090]

Price: $25.00 save 20% $20.00