Cherkovski, Neeli

Leaning Against Time

ISBN: 0972295836
Penn Valley, CA: R.L. Crow Publications, 2004. First Edition. Softcover. Dated, inscribed, signed & with drawings by Neeli Cherkovski to Thomas Rain Crowe. "From Los Angeles to San Francisco, from 1953 to now- Neeli Cherkovski uses bar scenes, cafe insights, family confessions, heartbreak and redemption, meditations on morality and the acceptance of self to transform memory, time and myth into an intimate poetic-memoir. He creates a window to the past and explores how time has shaped who he has become. It is here- the power of Cherkovski's talent surfaces. It is here- he finds himself, like an old friend in a warm embrace- Leaning Against Time." (from back cover) A later collection of poems by Neeli Cherkovski (1945-2024), the great American poet & co-authorial founder of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance. Thoughtful, evocative, elegaic, whimsical- this is an exemplary, well-aged collection which won the PEN Oakland (CA) Literary Award, as noted on sticker affixed to front cover. Trade-format softcover original, first edition, first printing as stated at copyright page. On the title page, Cherkovski has hand-dated, inscribed & signed in black ink: "S(an) F(rancisco)/ April 19, 2006/ for Tom!/ yet another/ brother,/ (signed) Neeli." Surrounding the above are three charming hand-drawings of a butterfly, the sun & a simple caricature (likely a self-portrait). "Tom" is Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet with whom Cherkovski co-founded & was at the center of the BBG/SSFR during the 1970s. This volume is from the Thomas Rain Crowe Archive (see our item No. 1010) which was obtained, catalogued & offered as a single item by Third Mind Books. The individual items of the TRC archive, which collectively represents the entire legacy of the BBG/SSFR & its critical collaborations/mentorships with the key figures of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance, are being curated & presented throughout this year of 2025. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, wherein Crowe provides an anecdotal history of this important literary phenomenon. Cherkovski is very extensively referenced by Crowe in SFSF, as they were each others' right-hand "brothers" indeed in writing, events & activism. An essential & as-ever rewarding Cherkovski collectible in its rarest contemporary form, greatly enriched by his inscription, signature, date fairly close to publication & delightful drawings; & with the most highly significant, relevant association & provenance. In fine-to-very-fine condition with light rubbing, faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; a touch of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same esp. lower right corner of front cover with very small area of separation; award sticker noted above with mild rubbing,scratching & slightly obscuring lower portion of author image; a hint of rubbing to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps & small, faint creases at mostly lower corners of some page leaves. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #7507]

Price: $50.00