Blaser, Robin

Broadside: Halloween

Boulder, CO: Kavyayantra Press, 1995. First Edition. Folded Single Sheet. “Let pass let pass / the butterfly / the dark spaces between / larkspur / in the city-twilight / the winking pumpkin / laughter, not a ghoul / or skeleton among them / tutus, and gypsies / in the child eye’s languor / sweet, burned face / of imagination / clowns and raggedy ann, / red headed / sweet, burned hands / gathering bags of / smarties and gum / drops / violet, red, orange, green, / pink, brown, yellow and / chocolate surprise leopard / and wonderful sorrow.”--Robin Blaser, “Halloween.” Robin Blaser (1925-2009) was an American-born Canadian poet and playwright. The author of numerous collections of poetry, Blaser’s works include: Nomad (Slug Press, 1995), Syntax (Talonbooks, 1983), Cups (Four Seasons Foundation, 1968), and The Moth Pœm (Open Space, 1964). Blaser’s poetry and prose has been collected into a series of volumes: The Fire: Collected Essays of Robin Blaser (University of California Press, 2006), and Even on Sunday: Essays, Readings, and Archival Materials on the Poetry and Poetics of Robin Blaser (National Poetry Foundation, 2002), to name a few. Offered today is the 1995 broadside, Halloween. A short poem about the season of mischief and candy, Halloween is a quaint and gorgeously composed broadside. The cover, decorated with a cracked tombstone with the poem’s title and Blaser’s name and birth year, is sketched in dolorous black and white. The broadside is folded in half and opens vertically, on the inside the poem is adorned with cascading gumdrops in vivid violet, emerald, yellow and burnt orange. A product of the student run press at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa, Halloween is a fantastically put together and increasingly rare Blaser broadside! From the collection of Brian Jacobs (b. 1969) who, in 1994, had just begun his attendance at the Kerouac School/Naropa University (then Naropa Institute), & was beginning his studies with Ginsberg, Anne Waldman (the very co-founders of the School) et al. Later during his sojourn at Naropa of 1994-1996, Jacobs would become Ginsberg's official assistant. Since those heady days of Beat Anointment in the 1990s, Jacobs has gone on to become a most-distinguished author, publisher & academician, a True Beat Progeny who now resides here in Ann Arbor & is our good friend & colleague. We have been privileged to obtain Jacobs' stellar collection, highlights of which, including this especially lofty gem, are the exclusive focus of this group of New Arrivals. Single sheet folded broadside. First & presumably only printing. In very fine condition with only the slightest wear to fine edges. Very Fine. [Item #8593]

Price: $75.00