Dunning, Stephen

Running With Bill

ISBN: 0960880224
East Lansing, MI, USA: Years Press, 1985. First Edition. Staplebound. Inscribed and signed by Stephen Dunning. “We awake by magic/from rocks near Manistee./Bill and I stretch/slide through trees, dip/our faces in the river’s face./The river reaches back/into its sack of surges/lags a handful of cat’s-eyes/into fields where the sun/loose-jointed old lion/knuckles down, twisty & sly./It warms stone fences/ lifts the civil apple tree/from earth that would rather/grow pine. I ask: Is this/ the alchemy? river’s the blood,/fire, the soul of the earth?/ We sometimes run with stars.”-- Stephen Dunning, “Running With Bill”, “June 14”. Poet, former educator, and Ann Arbor resident, Stephen Dunning is a writer who has been writing poetry and publishing widely in little magazines since 1975. Among his works a few notable titles stand out: “Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle…” (1966), “Some Haystacks Don’t Ever Have Any Needle…” (1969), and his anthology of student poetry “Mad, Sad & Glad” (1970). The focus of today’s particular curation “Running With Bill” is a collection of poems either framed as letters or as snippets of letters addressed to “Bill”. The poems often flit between ephemeral and surreal to warmly intimate and vivid. “Running with Bill” is a collection that any lover of poetry would find profound, refreshing, and beautifully written. In thin blue ink on the title page, the inscription reads: “April 13, 1985. For Harry G and Nancy.” He then crossed out his printed name and signed: “Stephen Dunning, with affection and respect.” Chapbook in stapled wrappers. First and only Limited Edition of 1,000 copies, as stated on colophon. Book is in very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges and light staining/smudging to front and back covers. Very Fine. [Item #5734]

Price: $35.00 save 10% $31.50