Moore, Daniel

Dawn Visions

San Francisco, CA: City Lights Book, 1964. First Limited Trade Softcover Edition, First Printing. "Stand here with me at the edge of this cliff, grab hold | of those exposed black roots, set your foot | against the knotted tree below you. If you should | knock off any of its curled leaves | do not sadden." (Dawn Visions, first stanza, pg. 91) Dawn Visions, (Cook, No. 48, pgs. 51-53) American poet, essayist & librettist Daniel Moore’s (1940-2016; aka "Abd al-Hayy") first book of poetry, was published by canonical American poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti's (1919-2021) City Lights Books, San Francisco, in 1964, as well as his second, in 1972, Burnt Heart / An Ode to the War Dead. Moore became a Sufi Muslim in 1970 (thus the name change), and lived and traveled throughout Morocco, Spain, Algeria and Nigeria, ultimately finding home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Featuring six hand drawings and cover design by Moore, as well as thirty two poems separated into six sections. A true highlight is the poem "The Place of All Possible Darkness/ All Possible Light" (pgs. 91-92), which reveals his feelings about the afterlife with expert lyricism and panache. From the collection of scholar, poet and our dear friend Robin Eichele (b. 1941), noted Mimeograph Revolutionary & co-founder of the Detroit Artists' Workshop with the late, great John Sinclair (1941-2024). At top left corner of otherwise blank inner front cover, Eichele has written his ownership name and date in black felt tip marker "Robin Eichele | 3-3-65." Softcover in with sewn binding: first trade softcover edition, first & only printing per aforementioned City Lights Books bibliography (1 of 1,950 copies). An essential Moore/City Lights collectible in its rarest contemporary form & with most distinguished provenance. In relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild rubbing mostly to fine edges and corners of front, back covers & spine; mild bumping at corners of same; one small enclosed tear at bottom left corner of spine; moderate age-toning and some very minor scratching to text block. Interior fine-to-very fine with mild age-toning to mostly blank margins and fine edges of most page leaves; moderate staining only at page 116; one pen marking at fine edge of page 10. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8270]

Price: $50.00