These original poems describe in a manner at once allusive and concrete a number of common animals. The creatures in Mr. Merrill's bestiary reflect upon the world and their places in it. They speak of their fears, conceits, triumphs, and disappointments. Mr. Merrill speaks of the raccoon, who "Teaches its foolish children... To know they take communion / When they wash their food in water"; of the mole, "I am not sure that I have eyes, / But I have never wept"; of the stallion, "Who hates with lifted head." He records the ...
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These original poems describe in a manner at once allusive and concrete a number of common animals. The creatures in Mr. Merrill's bestiary reflect upon the world and their places in it. They speak of their fears, conceits, triumphs, and disappointments. Mr. Merrill speaks of the raccoon, who "Teaches its foolish children... To know they take communion / When they wash their food in water"; of the mole, "I am not sure that I have eyes, / But I have never wept"; of the stallion, "Who hates with lifted head." He records the firefly -- "I was wiped into a comet / Across the face of childhood"; the nighthawk -- "I weave sunset fabric / Out of thunderheads"; the moth -- "I don't know why I love / Dim light..."; and the crow -- "The other birds are idiots." This volume is not, however, a random collection of animal poems; rather it presents the reflections of 28 separate personalities, which merge into a single statement. Each of the animals represented in these poems is handsomely illustrated in an original line and wash drawing by Robert James Foose, a well-known Kentucky artist.
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Add this copy of A Bestiary to cart. $12.00, good condition, Sold by Small World Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rochester, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1976 by The University Press of Kentucky.
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Seller's Description:
Robert James Foose. Good. Book. Oblong 12mo. Edition of 1000 copies. Wear and soiling/age spotting to covers, discoloration at bottom of spine. Binding is firm. Staining at bottom of front and rear gutters. Light damp staining to pages. Age spotting at ends, light age spotting to text.
Add this copy of A Bestiary to cart. $26.24, very good condition, Sold by Midtown Scholar Bookstore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Harrisburg, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by University Press of Kentucky.
Add this copy of A Bestiary to cart. $60.37, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by University Press of Kentucky.
Add this copy of Alphabet of Joy to cart. $500.00, like new condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by The Windell Press.
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Fine. First edition. Octavo. Quarter cloth and papercovered boards. Fine. Inscribed by the author: "For Jim Birchfield with warm regards-Boynton Merrill Jr." Copy number 31 of 50 numbered copies. Beautifully printed collection of poetry.