Monday, August 8, 2022

ON THE MESA ~

 


It's a shame, the re-issue of this anthology is almost batting .1000 —

it has a lush cover photograph of the poet Bobbie Louise Hawkins

by Gerard Malanga, who not only captures the time element of the late 1960s, 

but Malanga has always had an affectionate eye for cats.

This anthology was first published by City Lights in 1971

and this expanded edition draws in an aura of American poetry

including Black Mountain poets, San Francisco Renaissance, Beat, 

and the NewYork School of poets, and for a change digs into

the ground and finds at least one half of Coyote's Journal poetry (Bill Brown) 

but badly misses James Koller — a close friend with many in this

anthology and a sure hand of the California poem. 

As they say in that funny world: it's the only reason why I

can't give this book 5 Stars.

A thorough biographical index of each poet would have

also been a treat and finished off a sterling package.

Nonetheless, the new anthology is beautifully edited —

you can sense certain poets touching certain poets —

for instance Joanne Kyger touching Tom Clark

touching Jim Carroll touching Bill Berkson.

The Song Cave makes terrific books, each title comes off the block

similar but unique, much as New Directions used to make them and

how we used to go hunting for them. Black spine, same square size, 

cool and fashionable, neat typeface, and an exciting range

of poets. You absolutely can't go wrong.

Just not perfect, yet.


[ BA ]