Cherkovski, Neeli

The Waters Reborn

Los Angeles & Fairfax, CA: Red Hill Press, 1975. First Printing. Softcover. Signed by Neeli Cherkovski to Thomas Rain Crowe, co-authorial founder of the Second San Francisco Renaissance. "every jew is a poet / steiner said / and i told him yes / i said / no denying / essentially, this fact- / no denying in places like bergan-belsen / the world's hope died- / which is narrow, but / may be true- / the world's hope died / when auschwitz opened its gates- / and i said essentially / and steiner and i / sat there / in the marketplace / and he said the world lost itself / in the barracks of treblinka” (from “Every Jew Is A Poet” by Neeli Cherkovski [1945-2024]). Offered here is a small book of poems by Neeli Cherkovski from 1975 titled The Waters Reborn, — likely published in early ’75 given the emphasis on earlier work (and a particularly good selection at that, as readers familiar with Neeli’s oeuvre will recognize) and the absence of the inspired, rhapsodic thrust of his work from Summer, 1975 through Winter, 1977.(See the poem “tom,” — which was first printed in TMB’s own publication, which you can more info on, below — and also TMB Item No. 4187, a Cherkovski broadside titled “The Be Attitude.” This is a great illustration of Neeli’s poetic practice at a crossroads, really: as it’s the refinement of things he learned from Charles Bukowski, yet generally lacks the influence Cherkovski was right then was beginning to access. This, of course via direct apprenticeship to luminaries like Harold Norse (1916-2009) & Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021), among other First San Francisco Renaissance & assorted Beat giants. As such, this work is especially intriguing within the larger context of Cherkovski’s catalogue, — doubly useful for those wishing to study the bard’s poetic trajectory at an early, critical juncture. From the collection of Thomas Rain Crowe, the legendary American poet and co-authorial founder of the Second San Francisco Renaissance. For more information on the Thomas Rain Crowe archive (assembled & curated by Third Mind Books), see our book, Starting from San Francisco: Thomas Rain Crowe in Conversation with Third Mind Books (Item No. 3071) & the catalog for the Crowe archive (Item No. 1010), which contains several excerpts and quotations from the book as well as a full listing of the archive’s contents, which are now being offered for sale individually on the Third Mind Books site. Trade-format softcover original: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page; First Printing, with no mention of (or reference to) subsequent printings thereon. This item is additionally signed by Cherkovski with significant association, as it's signed by one co-authorial founder of the Second San Francisco Renaissance to the other: Thomas Rain Crowe (then known as "Tom Dawson" to other SSFR participants). Cherkovski signature, in thin, blue felt pen ink, reads: “FOR TOM / DAWSON / YOURS / FROM / NEELI / CHER / KOVSKI / 76.” In Fair-Good condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; mild rubbing, & mild-to-enunciated exhibits of age-toning (foxing; sunning; & some slight yellowing) variously present at same; interior complete but a few leaves experiencing separation at volume’s end; otherwise clean. Fair-Good. [Item #7258]

Price: $50.00