Sunday poetry: a phoenix

Mixed in with a bunch of other random books I found today's poem, in a handbound edition of Rainmakers by Deborah Ward, with linocuts by Billie Bowman. Coyote Love Press put this lovely, slim volume out in 1984, with type hand-set in Janson. This copy is one of 26 lettered copies in the edition of 226. Those 26 lettered copies were hand sewn by Lorene Burman and bound in boards covered with paper marbled by Rick Swann. Both the author and the artist handsigned the colophon page, and the copy I have is letter "k" -- it's a very solid book, for all its reedlike presence on the shelf. So in a way, the book itself is a poem, before you even get to the pages inside!

Self-Portrait with Phoenix

You see, I've burned back to you,
she said. And I knew the blue ashes
as roses from my own throat

and I opened my dark drapery
to chamber her, inhale those ashes
there; petals, blue smoke.

Lovecraft on the wall

All this month we are featuring an art show of work inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, weird fiction author par exemplar of the 1920s-1930s pulps. The show, titled "Madness Immemorial: A Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft," features work is by two artists, Brandon Kawashima and myself, Michelle Souliere. Brandon's work consists of 5 graphite and ink pieces and one watercolor piece, and my work collects 2 graphite pieces and 3 pieces in color pencil on velvety black Somerset paper.

For those of you unable to make it to the show while it is up (through April 4, 2012), I did film a quick video during the opening, when the Watchers played their peculiar brand of surf music as accompaniment for the event, to give you a feel for both the work and the event. I've also included examples of the pieces below, which you can click to see larger versions.

Enjoy!

Lovecraft in Brooklyn by Brandon Kawashima

Lavinia by Brandon Kawashima

Innsmouth Harbor by Michelle Souliere

Crinoid Cthulhu by Michelle Souliere