File of 16 letters & postcards, etc., 1973-1992 from Davies to fellow poet Richard Dillon
16 separate items, including poems, letters, postcards, reading announcements, some of the letters quite lengthy and with excellent content, sent to Richard Dillon, a poet, astrologer and critic associated with William S. Burroughs as well as with L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E poetry. Alan Davies (B. 1951) is a poet also often associated with the Language Poets. He took a course from Robert Creeley at Harvard's Summer School in 1972 and was already publishing his own work and John Wieners' work; he is also a practicing Buddhist. Includes: 1) 1 page typed letter dated 10-8-73, with reflections on Pound's conception of Confucius, on Zen as a way of life, on faith and learning. Enclosed is a poem from Oct. 1973 that begins, "A seascape is done / in two fine / lines: / where open water / moves slowly over / the shore..." 2) 1 page typed letter in envelope from Feb. 5, 1974, seems like Dillon sent Davies an article for inclusion in the "Real Paper" literary journal, which they rejected, thus, Alan is taking it upon himself to send to "Drummer" in Philadelphia. Davies recommends Levertov's "The Poet in the World" and Creeley's collected interviews as well as Gilbert Sorrentino's Splendide-Hotel, an appreciation of Rimbaud. 3) Columbus Day 1975 postcard. "American's don't know they got destinies! that is, they /haven't/ considered it. Ginsberg considered it for them but so what." 4) Dorchester Nov. 30, 1975 lengthy 2 pp. typed letter, very friendly, filled with gossip, also poet publishing talk: he sent some of Dillon's work as well as his own to Anne Waldman for her prose issue of "The World" and encloses some work, not present, Harwood and Malanga reviews, Joseph Beuys, etc. Mentions Barrett Watten, Bill Berkson favorably, plus the journals he's reading, like "Z" and Big Sky among others. Discusses translating Mallarmé, Reverdy, Artaud, talks about attending a class taught by Paz, plus some critiques of Dillon's poems. 5) Small yellow gossipy postcard, info about a Pound seminar at Oberlin and asks for work for his journal 100 Posters #2. 6) Large postcard advertising Jennifer Bartlett's new paintings, Oct. 17, 1977. Nice note about reading Jai Alai, a trip to Quebec, and Ashbery's Houseboat Days. 7) 1982 postcard apologizing for not being a better correspondent. "Life is a secession (sic) of events and of thoughts without relationship or continuity, and with us as its intermediary. The daily duel." 8) 1983 Diebenkorn postcard. "Here in the Red Bar the trilobites are exercising their logarythms logarythmically slowly. My city contains my lover. In the space of these our times, my time takes place. We only absent ourselves insufficiently from those too few we love." And it goes on! 9) Postcard from Sanibel Island, light and newsy, undated probably 1983-84. 10) 1986 postcard from the Adirondacks, "...two days of abominable rain and dismal grays." 11) 1987 postcard from San Juan, PR. "The fruit salad is one hundred percent local and fresh. This is the choice between this and business for life. It's a day taken out of the calendar." 12) Large Franz Kline postcard from 1987, commenting on some of Dillon's poems he had left with Davies. "How cherish it I to again see Revere Beach through your eyes...I am particularly fond of the Collission colusion end to the beginning. Perhaps the eye does see itself." 13) 1988 small envelope with card inside, thanking Dillon for attending his wedding. 14) Oct. 10, 1989 1 1/2 page typed letter. "Just tried to call you and found you have sought phone asylum. Hope this does not refer to any ill or ill will or ill wind or illness or ill feelings or whatever." Goes on to talk shop, including Leslie Scalapino publishing a book of his, etc. 15) "Know Your Scumbags" invitation to reading at the Ear, Feb. 1990. 16) 1992 postcard. "Dear Richard, Liked the theatrical staging and slowness of your Cardoza rap. The poem punched right." Very Good. Item #H23100
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