Dorn, Edward

Songs Set Two-A Short Count

West Newbury, MA: Frontier Press, 1970. First Printing. Softcover. A volume of poems by Ed Dorn (1929-1999), the great American poet most often affiliated with the literary journal, Wild Dog — Dorn's organizational contribution to the avant-garde print culture of the Mimeograph Revolution. A favorite author of Stephen King’s (b. 1947), who described Dorn’s work as “perfect talismans of writing,” the author behind Gunslinger and other inventive works studied at Black Mountain College under Charles Olson (1910-1970), and remained acquainted, both critically and personally, with the poets that come from that side of the New American Poetry family tree. The very first thing you see when you open up this book is the title page, on which the following phrase is writ: “This volume / is to honor / the Scald” This is a variant spelling of “skald,” which is the ancient Scandinavian word for “poet,” or “bard.” We can’t wait to see how relatively Olsonian Dorn will get when working with these histories. These kinds of moves are usually made by charlatans, who dig into encyclopedias or histories they really aren’t connected to, or know quite little about, and then they come back and throw it in their book to make it seem like they’re up to something. Dorn, while a follower of Jules Laforgue (one of the great Verse Criminals of the late Belle Epoch), is himself, I believe, above this…simply too creative to be bobbing for material. As a friend and student of not only Olson, but also, of Robert Creeley (1926-2005), whose totemic poetical intellect is well-documented, you come to expect certain things with Dorn…and with rare exception, you usually get them. Small-format softcover original: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page; First Printing, with no reference to additional or otherwise related printings thereon. Per colophon, this work was “designed & printed by Graham Mackintosh,” the celebrated master printer born in Salt Lake City, UT whose legacy played out over several decades in San Francisco; a period in which Mackintosh allied himself heavily with the artists and authors of the New American Poetry, and its various subcultural outgrowths. A clean, short, and ultimately rewarding Dorn collectible. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on Olson. Glover was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & had ever since served outstandingly to bear the Olsonian Torch as bibliographer, editor & publisher. We have just been informed of Glover's passing during February of 2026, & extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. In fine condition with only minute-to-moderate rubbing, shelf-wear, & some light bumping present, variously along fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; binding tight and interior delightfully clean: a choice copy of this bite-sized Dorn collectible. Fine. [Item #8751]

Price: $30.00