Reed, J.D.

Expressways: Poems

ISBN: 0671204637
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1969. First Trade Softcover Edition. Softcover. It’s true that here at Third Mind Books, what editor Don Allen famously termed “The New American Poetry” predominates. Its footprint, both in store and on the site, is reflective of TMB’s boundless commitment to excellence in scholarship; our total devotion to matters curatorial. Yet even “Lifers” like us, 'don’t know it all'—(we'd frankly be stupid to think that we did)—and that’s a beautiful thing. Recurrent in all such lives is discovery: discovery of a 'new' author, artist, or oeuvre that's referent & adjacent to those we've known, but one we never "found" (or thought to pay mind to). It's magic when this happens. Like, finding a cluster of black diamond truffles when foraging, touristically around Dordogne. It was on just such a walk through the Frostian wood that I last encountered a poet like this. His name was J.D. Reed (1940-2005): the author of “Expressways,” —the book we’ve placed on offer before you that won him a Guggenheim Fellowship in ’70. Let’s bring in something different, shall we? Your Devoted Vice President here at TMB was tickled to discover that he and Reed had something in common. It was something he'd yet to see elsewhere. Namely, Reed — like YDVP — felt authors can benefit, holistically from a philosophical engagement with American sports. He understood that watermelon-sized epiphanies are to be everywhere found in the National Football League, for example. And after [1] winning a GFA for this book, “Expressways,” and [2] teaching Creative Writing at UMASS—eventually becoming the program’s Director—Reed pursued a twenty-five year career in sports journalism. He wrote for “Sports Illustrated, Time, and People, along with freelance articles and cover stories in many other national publications” (Qtn. from Reed’s OBIT in a Princeton, NJ newspaper). What a great American: one almost hopes that he caught a game with Hunter S.Thompson. Returning, finally to the verse itself: we were simply delighted at the proficiency. It reminded us of the great Objectivist, George Oppen. So, if you like work in that style, here's where to find it...hesitations be damned! From the collection of Thomas Fitzsimmons (1926-2017), a noted American poet, academician & editor, which we have been honored to obtain from his son, Ian Fitzsimmons. First Trade Softcover Edition: First Printing, as stated on copyright page. In near fine condition with only mild-to-enunciated shelf-wear, some age-toning, light scuffing, bumping & some bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; moderate-to-enunciated rubbing to same at select locales but otherwise clean. Near Fine. [Item #6797]

Price: $25.00