Enslin, Theodore

Ranger CXXII & CXXVIII

ISBN: 0930794001
Rhinebeck, NY: Station Hill, 1977. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. “In . Con . . Contra . . . / (dance) / in / contra / dance. / In dance – / indance. / So spaced / the spaces. / A hesitance / redeems it / not or / sub-ex- / other than – / come joyous. / Come and dance. / Wisdom as a lack of wisdom / opening. / Ideas-inception- / re- / ceptor. / Solution as a way – / avoidance / of the problem – / and to solve is / not to touch it. / Leave the answer, / and return-oh / dance the problem. / That is dancing. / That is wisdom…”--Theodore Enslin, “CXXII.” Theodore Enslin (1925-2011) was an American poet. During his lifetime, Enslin was associated with poets such as Cid Corman (1924-2004) and the Black Mountain poets Charles Olson (1910-1970) and Robert Creeley (1926-2005), though his work also showed the influence of Objectivist poets such as Louis Zukofsky (1904-1978) and George Oppen (1908-1984). Enslin corresponded with most of these poets, sometimes for years and, in the case of Zukofsky, in verse. Corman’s Origin Press published Enslin’s first book, The Work Proposed (1958). Known for poetic sequences and what Enslin called “long workings,” his body of work is vast and was published mainly by small presses. Other works include To Come, to Have Become (1966), which won the Hart Crane Award; Forms 1-5 (1970-1974); The Poems (1970); Etudes (1972); Views (1973); and Synthesis 1-24 (1975). Offered today is the 1977 collection of poetry Ranger CXXII & CXXVIII. This long work is concerned with the 16th-century genocide of Native Americans and, like Olson’s Maximus poems, extends and expands to include larger swaths of time and space. In the Guardian, Michael Carlson described the poem’s “epic scope” as “focused on sharp observation of both the setting and process of poetry.” Experimental, vivid, ephemeral, and often times dream-like, Enslin’s lyricism captures the imagination and is as impressive as it is understated and underappreciated. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the great American scholar, bibliographer, author & publisher who was the primary authority on literary giant Charles Olson (our favorite Maximus Obscurantist), with whom we're honored to have been acquainted. Stapled wrappers. Limited first edition, this is copy #379 in a series of 500 (of which 43 are signed by the author) as stated at copyright page. In very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges, moderate rust at staples, and slight smudging/scratching and age-toning to front and back covers. The watercolor design of the covers naturally bled through to the inside covers (see photos), a byproduct of the design choice, and there seems to be some age-toning present there along with the pigment. Very Fine. [Item #8854]

Price: $30.00