a review of November, A Map
"November, a Map" is so very beautiful. I just finished spending some time with it.
Aside from imagining a wandering through your autumn world, it brings to mind my life long love of Fall, memories of making similar "puzzle" books with students over the years, and how the honoring of the things we love is a poem. I love that the words "book", "paper", "cloth", "stitch", and "thread" are in it, along with the ten tender stitches that follow the plant printed curve on the page.
It felt like a ceremony-
first reading through it in book shape,
opening it up on a quilt in the sunshine, to see the whole of it, and how the textures and patterns in each page connect,
flipping it all over to see new designs and places to touch.
It is now slipped back into its envelope (blue!), leaning near, on my desk, and shining its peaceful rich autumn moon.
I feel enriched and grateful to have this to gaze at and hold.
wow!
cindy monte's words move me deeply.
i share them here with her permission.
and a few blushes.
this week mark takes the book,
along with his other caliban press books
to the oxford fine press book fair.
a couple copies of it are already in australia,
and with luck, soon in england!
such a beautiful book of your spirit and place
ReplyDeleteLovely words for a book full of poetic grace.
ReplyDeletexox
mo and corrine, thank you. you made my day!
ReplyDeletelovely thoughtful words for a beautiful thoughtful work.
ReplyDeleteyes, jean, and so kind
ReplyDeletecindy capturing the essence of your beautiful book.
ReplyDeleteneki, she did indeed!
ReplyDeleteThere's been a wonderful song in Australia by Paul Kelly and the Messengers called, 'From Little Things Big Things Grow', and that title is apt here, I feel, for something that has reached out from a particular moment to a wider sphere.
ReplyDeletefaisal, that's lovely, thank you!
ReplyDelete