Kelly, Robert

The Lady Of (Sparrow No. 55)

Santa Barbara, CA, USA: Black Sparrow Press, 1977. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. A poetic response to Lord Tennyson’s ballad The Lady of Shalott by Robert Kelly, the prolific poet and writer originally associated with the Black Mountain & Deep Image schools. Published in April 1977 as No. 55 in Black Sparrow Press’s series of monthly periodical pamphlets. “The Lady Of” matches the 19 stanzas of Tennyson’s second iteration of the classic but abandons its lyricism and Arthurian setting for, as Kelly puts it “an essay in metachronic journalism. ‘The Lady Of’ is a reconstitution of an ur-The Lady of Shalott, and means to rescue a doctrine of woman from that curiously empty, frightening, beautiful old poem,” Kelly writes in a note to readers. From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), the noted Mimeograph Revolutionary poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with John Sinclair[1941-2024]). Chapbook in stapled wrappers: first edition, first printing, though neither explicated as such on copyright page, with no reference to further printings. In fine condition with minor markings and bumping on front cover; minor creasing at top right edges and corners of both the covers and interior. Fine. [Item #7721]

Price: $30.00