Various (Bukowski, Charles; Coles, Robert; Rich, Adrienne; Williams, William Carlos et al.)

American Poetry Review Vol. 4 No. 2 (April 1975)

Philadelphia, PA: Sidney H. Berg, 1975. First Edition, First Printing. Folded Sheets. "the wisdom of the | bubmblebee crawling | the handle of the | water pitcher is | enormous as the | sun comes through | the kitchen win- | dow I think again | of the murder of | Caesar and down in | the sink are three | dirty water glasses | the doorbell rings | and I stand deter- | mined not to answ- | er." ("b", Charles Bukowski, pg. 33). This number of the poetry journal edited by the quartet of Stephen Berg, Rhoda Schwartz, David Bonanno & Arthur Vogelsang features 2 poems from the gritty American poet and dirty old man Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) entitled "Drooling Madness at St. Liz" and "b" (pg. 33; Debritto B946, pg. 277). These two selections from the editors are almost a wink-wink moment, as one poem dicussses bees, and the other is about a bird (woman), giving us a "Birds & Bees" "talk" from a "dirty old man" (Bukowski). With other poems from up-and coming versifiers of the time, including American David Rigsbee (b. 1949) and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Russell Edson (1928-2014). Boston author and psychiatrist Robert Coles (b. 1929) dissects the poetry of American Modernist poet and physician William Carlos Williams (1883-1963; "William Carlos Williams: The Knack of Survival in America; Part One: The Passaic Stories"; pg. 13). Williams was also a leading figure in the Imagist movement, which emphasized precise imagery and language, and he was known for his direct and honest writing style. Williams' work often reflected the experiences of everyday life and was characterized by a strong connection to American culture, making him a pivotal influence on the Beat generation in the 1950s and 60s. Eleanor Wilner (1937-2021), American poet and editor, examines the poetry of Adrienne Rich (1929-2012), the feminist poet credited with bringing the oppression of women and lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse ("This Accurate Dreamer: An Appreciation", pgs. 4-7); letters-to-the-editors, contemporary ads including for the book "Ten Poems and Lyrics by Mao Tse-tung," by the Communist leader and himbo Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976) and translated by Chinese poet Wang Hui-ming (b. 1959); and much more! Newspaper-format journal in loose sheets folded once horizontally: the first-&-only printing of The American Poetry Review Vol. 4, No. 2. An essential & rewarding collectible, of special interest to the Bukowski collector/completist in its singularly rarest original form. In relatively Good-Near Fine condition with moderate-to-significant age-toning, bumping, creasing, & some minor tearing to select locales throughout; slight tears to some pages at leftmost fine-edge of paper when folded (& center-fold when open), otherwise clean. Good-Near Fine. [Item #7859]

Price: $40.00