Poetry from Portland – Part 1: Division Leap

We move a little south for our second offering Of Interest for National Poetry Month. This time we feature two of the shining and rising stars of the Portland poetry scene, Division Leap and Tavern Books

First up:

divison leap logo

frank stanfordThe Singing Knives. by Frank Stanford. Lost Roads Press, 1979. $200

The second edition of Stanford’s first published book, originally published by Mill Mountain Press in 1971. This edition, published shortly after Stanford’s death, adds two poems which did not appear in the 1971 edition, and also appends a 4 pp. afterword concerning Stanford’s life and work. The cover and construction of the book differ considerably from both the first and subsequent edition.

poetry marathon

[poster for Poetry Marathon at the Camden Festival, London, May 1969].  $200.

Announcement for an extraordinary poetry event organized by Couzyn for the London Poetry Secretariat as part of the Camden Festival at the Round House Chalk Farm. Participants listed include Zukofsky, Kenneth Koch, Bob Cobbing, Henri Chopin, Hugh MacDiarmid, Adrian Henri, Jeff Nuttall, Adrian Mitchell (of the Liverpool Scene), Charles Causley, and (leading a workshop) George Macbeth.

Girl CalendarThe 1967 Game Calendar. by Joe Brainard & Kenward Elmslie. Np: 1967. $125.

Great collaboration between Brainard and Elmslie in the form of a girlie calendar – each bold and scantily clad woman matched with a four line poem.

poetry olympicsPoetry Olympics Vol. 1. London: All Round Records, 1982. $75.

Scarce punk poetry album documenting the first Poetry Olympics held at the Young Vic Theatre in London.

barbara guestThe Blue Stairs. Barbara Guest. Corinth Press, 1968.  $75.

One of 100 copies signed and numbered by Guest at the colophon. A mind-blowing book, with a beautiful cover by Helen Frankenthaler.

Hurrah PatchenHurrah for Anything  by Kenneth Patchen. Jonathan Williams, 1957.  $75 

Inscribed by the publisher, Jonathan Williams in the year of publication: “For William Sassen who will find Patchen’s world not too far from Satie’s. Best regards, Jonathan Williams April 1957.”

coming attractionsComing Attractions: An Anthology of American Poets in Their Twenties. Dennis Cooper & Tim Dlugos, eds.Los Angeles: Little Caesar, 1980.  $50.

Inscribed by contributor Wayne McNeil to a an early contributor to Little Caesar. Superlative anthology.

jim carrol ups4 Ups and 1 Down. by Jim Carroll. Angel Hair Books, 1970. $300.

Mimeographed, printed on recto only. Stab stapled wraps. One of 300 copies, with the cover illustrated with a photomontage by Donna Dennis.

charles plymmelApocalypse Rose by Charles Plymell. Dave Haselwood, 1966.  $200.

Inscribed by Plymell to Doug Blazek – an excellent association between two poet publishers who both published each other.

 Lots more poetry from Division Leap here

Previously on Of Interest:
Poetry from Seattle:Wessel & Lieberman and Wave Books