GINSBERG, Allen (1926–1997); [COOLIDGE, Clark (b. 1939) – his copy]

Empty Mirror: Early Poems

New York: Totem Press/Corinth Books, 1961 [first edition]

Stapled pamphlet; 201 x 135mm; pp. 47

An extensively annotated copy of Allen Ginsberg’s early poems, in the attractive Totem Press edition, from the working library of the poet Clark Coolidge.

On the surface Coolidge and Ginsberg are separated by the stylistic gap between ‘Beat’ and ‘Language’ poetry – but in his marginalia here Coolidge reveals a deep interest in Ginsberg’s work, picking out themes and words that anticipate ‘Howl’ and other mature works, summarizing whole poems, and resolving allusive lines, and cross-referencing other writers in the Beat and broader American tradition (Burroughs, Kerouac, Hawthorne, Whitman are mentioned, amongst others). All but three poems bear annotations – many are extensively marked up.

Coolidge also gives clues to his own position on poetry and composition. For instance, under the line ‘the majestic flaws of mind’ he writes ‘why does he view this negatively?’, and next to a poem titled ‘This is about death’ he writes ‘Fuck philosophy! Live!’’

Given that the only date amongst Coolidge’s marginalia is 1968 (reference to a Playboy article), we can assume that Coolidge read this around the time of his first ‘collected’ volume Space (1970), the latest poems in which are starkly minimalist (‘an / un / into // nor / and / round’). Coolidge is also well known for his collaging technique. Perhaps most intriguing therefore is Coolidge’s habit of underlining, which reduces Ginsberg’s poems to brief noun phrases or epithets: ‘the doll of eternity’, ‘little white key’, ‘with such unpleasant detail’, ‘cadaverous men’, to give just a few randomly chosen examples.

Although the book does not bear Coolidge’s name it comes from a collection of his books and, as noted, bears extensive annotations in his distinctive hand.

Very good condition: covers a little grubby; annotations throughout

References: Tom Orange, ‘Arrangement and Density: A Context for Early Clark Coolidge’, Jacket2 [online]