Postcard by Alice Notley. Photograph: Courtesy of Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, MARBL, Emory University
As the 2104 holiday season wraps up let’s finish the year with a look at how some of our most beloved poets shared the holiday love. Winter Wedding: Holiday Cards by Poets currently on view at Poet’s House features over 40 works by poets who included creative correspondence as a component of their offerings.
“Holiday cards, valentines, birthday greetings, rare booklets, and more from some of the last century’s most beloved poets, including Langston Hughes, Alice Notley, Ted Berrigan, Seamus Heaney, and Sylvia Plath. Ranging from intimate exchanges to collaborative artworks to annual original compositions, the pieces in the show offer a fascinating look at the ties of love and friendship behind the literary success, as well as at shifting styles and conventions in correspondence.”
Card by Robert Duncan and Jess, 1965. Photograph: Courtesy of Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, MARBL, Emory University
Greetings from Seamus Heaney, 1976. Photograph: Courtesy of Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, MARBL, Emory University
Holiday greetings from Langston Hughes, 1953. Photograph: Courtesy of Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, MARBL, Emory University
Most of the cards live at the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library at Emory University where poet and co-curator of the exhibition Kevin Young presides.
Full exhibition checklist (pdf)
More at the Guardian: Poets’ holiday greetings cards: an intimate glimpse into genius
Holiday Bonus:
Past Poets House exhibit of a selection of Robert Frost’s Christmas cards which were all published at the Spiral Press and printed by Joseph Blumenthal.
and of course Charles Bukowski made a habit out of issuing New Year’s Greeting Cards through his publisher Black Sparrow Press.
Previously on Book Patrol:
Emory University Unleashes The Danowski Poetry Collection 04/2008