Blue, Janice

Footprints in the Empty

San Francisco, CA: Sore Dove Press, 2006. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Inscribed & signed by Janice Blue to Thomas Rain Crowe. "Since the 60s, poetry has poured forth from microphones all over the cafés and parks and schools of this land. Most poems, when you see them on the page, are rather staid; that is, they're literary writing that the poet has publicly voiced. With Blue's, something else is happening. The reader will not go far into this book before he or she finds the self wanting to say the words out loud. And it won't be a performance trick. Recepted voice is so close to the act of writing in Blue's compositional dynamic that at times they are almost indistinguishable." (from introduction by Jack Hirschman, unpaginated). A fantastic collection of poems by the nominal Baby Beat poet Janice Blue (1942-2017). Notorious for spending 8 years in prison for the murder of her girlfriend's longshoreman boyfriend, Blue was an expert at wearing her heart on her sleeve, in life and on the page. Mentored by the likes of American poet and Beatitude magazine founder Bob Kaufman (1925-1986) and original Beat poet Jack Micheline (1929-1998), Blue uses her descriptive and evocative writing style to engage readers on many different topics, from her bitter fervor at the United States in " Uncle Sam" to her semi-autobigraphical poem to Kaufman, "Backroom Trains". An exciting addition to any Beat enthusiast, especially collectors of lesser known poets from the Baby beat generation. Her poetry has been described as quirky, original, and a fantastic play of language, with Thomas Rain Crowe saying "She was her own person, a self-starter, and her own teacher." (Starting From San Francisco, 2018). From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. The TRC archive was acquired, assembled & curated by Third Mind Books as a single item (see our item No. 1010), & its vast number of individual pieces are now being offered incrementally throughout this new year of 2025. The TRC archive collectively represents the entire legacy of the BBG/SSFR, & its critical collaboration-mentorships by the key figures of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, to obtain a thorough understanding of this important literary phenomenon from TRC himself. There are several references to Blue in SFSF, including the quoted above. Chapbook in stapled wrappers: first edition, limited first printing as indicated at colophon, one of 176 copies, though this copy was left unnumbered. Inscribed and signed to Thomas Rain Crowe at inside front cover in thin, black marker: "Tom / Thanks / for everything you've / done for me. / my admiration / and friendship / are your's / love (signed) Blue." An essential and rewarding collectible in its contemporary form, enriched by her inscription and signature and with very distinguished association and provenance. In fine-to-very fine condition with only light rubbing to front, back cover and stapled spine; minor crease to upper right corner; interior very fine with only tiny bumps to text block. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #7463]

Price: $50.00