Huffstickler, Albert

McSwyne and the Goddess

Austin, TX: Press of Circumstance, 1997. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Inscribed, signed & dated by Albert Huffstickler; & with inscribed & signed stick-note. “McSwyne spent his last quarter / calling home for money from / a payphone. The line was busy. / His quarter was not returned. / He banged on the box and cursed / his fate and finally walked / into a bar and borrowed the / phone and dialled the operator. / “What number were you calling / from?” she asked. “I don’t / know. It was a pay phone,” / said McSwyne. “Your coin can- / not be returned if we don’t / know the number, Sir.” / “Wait / right there,” said McSwyne and / walked back to the pay phone. / The whole box was covered with / graffiti. McSwyne walked back / to the bar and called the / operator again. “I’m sorry, / Sir. Your money can’t be / returned without a number. If / you’d care to write a letter–” / McSwyne hung up, furious. The / bartender, who had listened / to the whole exchange, eyed / McSwyne dubiously. “Your / last quarter?” “Yeh,” said / McSwyne, “I don’t suppose / you know how to wash dishes.” / McSwyne thought for a minute. / The last thing in the world / he wanted was a job. “Four / and a quarter an hour and I’ll / throw in a meal.” “You got / it,” said McSwyne, relenting / at the last minute. A little / work never hurt anybody and / besides, he could see the / Goddess eying him from a / corner with pursed lips so / who was he to argue with fate?”—Albert Huffstickler, “McSwyne and the Goddess/1.” Albert Huffstickler (1927 – 2002) was an American poet. He was born in Texas and lived in Austin during his later years, contributing to the poetry scene there and further afield. Huffstickler published hundreds of poems in his lifetime in both chapbooks and academic and underground journals. Among his oeuvre, the following titles particularly stick out: the collections Walking Wounded (1989), and Working on My Death Chant (1991); the chapbooks The Remembered Light, The Certitude of Laundromats (1995) & Armageddon (1998). Offered today is the 1997 chapbook long poem, McSwyne and the Goddess. A long poem, composed of 27 parts, McSwyne and the Goddess is Huffstickler at his best. A dream-like, surreal, experimental narrative, McSwyne and the Goddess is a cross between Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), and Homer’s The Odyssey. An iconic Huffstickler rarity! We have found and retained, affixed to title page, a yellow sticky-note inscribed and signed in thin black ink by Huffstickler to, presumably, a previous owner, although the note is largely undiscernible to this particular curator. Signed, inscribed & dated at title page in thin black ink: “Best wishes to / Henry [undiscernible] / from / Albert Huffstickler / May 30, 2000.” Chapbook in stapled wrappers. First Edition. Presumed first & only printing. In very fine condition with only minimal wear to fine edges, and minor smudging/staining to front and back covers. Very Fine. [Item #8723]

Price: $45.00