Kyger, Joanne

The Tapestry and the Web

San Francisco, CA: Four Seasons Foundation, 1965. Limited First Edition. Softcover. From the collection of Robin Eichele, with his ownership signature & date at year of publication. “Only hells so far. / where the floor slanted / down the hall / the street light during the day / also dipped in the street / 100 deaths in the newspaper murder / on every page in the back seat / of the greyhound bus to Stinson Beach. // hours in advance / things entering the door a second time / from the corner of my eye a dark / wild pig, he had long thin legs. // This goes all around again / where heaven explodes the walls. / against the pattern of fleur-de / -lis and bulls, flowers, ladies sewing / marigolds / all part of doom — that’s hell, all of the fantasy men / and women / underground / the ceiling of earth where hell pushes up / they are flowers / and spider webs. minstrels with lute stories / spun out, connected / and put together / And seasons / spring / and fall, / our knowledge, expectancy. / he said the same thing again / and remembered, it is creation that remains, / is hell.”--Joanne Kyger, “vision of heaven & hell,” pg. 36. Joanne Kyger (1934-2017), was not only an American poet, but one of the finest poet's of the San Francisco Renaissance/Beat Generation. Kyger published more than 20 collections of poetry, including All This Every Day (1975), The Wonderful Focus of You (1979), Going On: Selected Poems 1958-1980 (1983), Just Space, poems 1979-1989 (1991), Again: Poems 1989-2000 (2001), As Ever: Selected Poems (2002), and About Now: Collected Poems (2007). She is also the author of the prose collection Strange Big Moon: Japan and India Journals 1960-1964 (1981). Offered today is the 1965 collection of poetry, The Tapestry and The Web. Kyger’s first ever published collection of poems, The Tapestry and The Web is a wonderfully experimental collection that perfectly illustrates Kyger’s voice while also highlighting her influences (Zen Buddhism, Black Mountain College & The Beat Generation). The Tapestry and The Web is a stunning debut work filled with a propulsive, kinetic energy that offers a glimpse of Kyger’s vast potential as a writer. Kyger’s potential as well as her early mastery over the form is quite stunning. The Tapestry and The Web aside from containing the poets incredible, raw talent, also features illustrations from her one-time husband Jack Boyce; whom she married after her divorce from fellow poet Gary Snyder (b. 1930). Ultimately, The Tapestry and The Web is a phenomenal debut work by one of the finest poets of the last century. From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), an esteemed American poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with the legendary John Sinclair (1941-2024) during 1964, & is our good nearby friend. Eichele has hand-written his ownership signature & the date in bold black ink at blank upper right margin of recto first leaf/ title page. Trade-format softcover. Limited first edition, one in a series of 973 unsigned/letter copies in a total printing of 1000 as stated at colophon. In relatively very fine condition with only minor wear to fine edges, slight bending/creasing to upper right corner of front cover, mild discoloration due to age-toning to front & back covers and throughout interior, and slight staining/smudging to front and back covers. Very Fine. [Item #9506]

Price: $175.00 save 10% $157.50