Ceely, John

The Country Is Not Frightening: Poems 1962-1975

Berkeley, CA: Neon Sun, 1975. First Edition. Softcover. "Maybe I should cry./ I don't know what's got me./ Do walls hear?/ I want to sleep./ I got too high./ Brain is leaking out my ears./ It's on the turned-off record.// Let's meet somewhere else./ I want to sleep." ("Sound," pg. 8) A collection of poems by John Ceely, a hard-living workman-poet who we cannot find much information about- we surmise that his career as a poet was brief & that this is one of the few volumes or journals he published or contributed to during the 1960s-1970s. With child-like but intriguing illustrations by Ceely reproduced on front cover & throughout; & an introduction by poet Bill Bathurst (see our item No. 2156) which happens to mention William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch. From the collection of the late artist-poet Erin Matson, who with her then-husband the acclaimed poet & educator Clive Matson was a bona fide member of the Beat Generation- morphing into the hippie counterculture during the 1960s. The Matsons were protege-colleagues (in lifestyle as well as literature) of Herbert Huncke, Bonnie Bremser et al. Our research indicates that Clive was the publisher of this well-done production through this his Neon Sun imprint. It is likely that Clive gifted this copy to Erin. Large-format softcover in sewn binding, presumed first edition, first (likely sole) printing. A most interesting & rewarding (albeit somewhat enigmatic) poetry collectible, with distinguished provenance. In fine condition (especially for Erin, a tried-&-true Beat to the end who used & treated her collection accordingly...) with moderate-to-significant rubbing, esp. browning & occasional spotting to front, back covers & spine; very slight wear & few tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; one somewhat deep but non-penetrating short, thin horizontal scratch at middle-right mostly blank area of front cover echoing at blank inner front cover & endpaper; mild rubbing, browning & sparse, light spot-staining to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only scratch-echoes noted above; mild browning mostly to thin blank margins/ edges of some page leaves; tiny bumps at mostly upper corners of a few of same. Fine. [Item #4689]

Price: $25.00 save 20% $20.00