Bukowski, Charles

Broadside: "if we take-"

Orange County, CA: Rancho Santiago College; Black Sparrow Press; Lee Mallory, 1994. Limited First Edition. Single Sheet. "if we take what we can see- / the engines driving us mad, / lovers finally hating; / this fish in the market / staring upward into our minds; / flowers rotting, flies web-caught; / riots, roars of caged lions, / clowns in love with dollar bills, / nations moving people like pawns; daylight thieves with beautiful / nighttime wives and wines; / the crowded jails, / the commonplace unemployed, / dying grass, 2-bit fires; / men old enough to love the grave." (first stanza) A broadside (appx. 5" x 11") with the exemplary 1972 title poem by Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), the prolific & popular underground cult writer who used his poetry & prose to depict the depravity of urban life and the downtrodden in American society. Considered by many as among the most important American poets & writers of the twentieth century, Bukowski was a literary titan of his time, & his legacy looms large over the landscape of contemporary American writing, especially poetry. Offered here is a memorial production "Printed as a tribute in a limited edition, 200 copies, Rancho Santiago College / May 2, 1994" (final printed lines below poem). Bukowski died on March 9 of that year, & so this broadside was issued less than two months later. At bottom below printed text is the limitation, hand-written in bold blue ink: "187/200." Above the poem is this statement: "In conjunction with Black Sparrow Press & Lee Mallory.../ AN APPRECIATION." BSP, as all Bukowski collectors know, was one of the chief publishers of his works over his career, in many forms including ephemera such as this. Mallory (b. 1946) is a noted American poet & academician who was a close friend of Bukowski. A beautiful production; an extremely rare Bukowski collectible produced in the immediate wake of his passing. In very fine condition with only a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners; one very short vertical line near upper left corner which we're all-but-certain is a component of paper as issued. Very Fine. [Item #5876]

Price: $100.00