The Truth : A Poem

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Surrealistisch Kabinet. Very Good. 1968. Softcover. Wear and creasing to all edges of the wraps. Diagonal, light crease to the back. Tiny white spot to front.; This is Ted Joans' (1928-2003) 12-line poem The Truth, which he occasionally titled The Poet in readings. In this book, the composition of the poem's lines differs significantly from Joans' original composition of lines, which he used consistently in readings and printed form. This alternate composition appears to be unique to this Surrealistisch Kabinet edition. Compared to Joans' original composition, this is composed in staggered, alternating lines of different typefaces and cases. Compared to the original, this composition combines some short lines into longer ones, and breaks some longer lines into shorter ones, sometimes lines of a single word. "IF YOU SHOULD SEE A M A N / walking down in a crowded / street // talking // ALOUD // TO HIMSELF // DON'T RUN // IN THE // OPPOSITE DIRECTION // BUT RUN // TOWARDS HIM // for he is a // P O E T // you have NOTHING to // FEAR // FROM THE // POET // BUT THE // T R U T H" After the printed poem in ENLISH (sic), the next page states "translations of the truth / by friends of ted joans / all over the world". The poem then appears in translations into 34 other languages, stated thus: Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bambara, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Fulani, German, Greek, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Ibo, Ibo Popular, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Laotian, Mossi, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian-Croate, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese. The translations appear to follow various line compositions and vary considerably from both this unique composition and Joans' original one. With a tiny, line drawing of the head and shoulders of a wolf-like animal saying "Evol / Evil", then translated in reverse as "Love / Live". Provenance: From the library and estate of Kenward Elmslie, prolific poet associated with the New York School of poetry, editor, performer, and founder of Z Magazine and Z press. This edition is simply and crudely-produced, typical of this Surrealistisch Kabinet series. Sheets produced on a duplicating machine are bound as a single, saddle-stapled gather glued into orange wraps. The wraps are illustrated in Ted Joans' typical 'pasteup' collage style. With Joans' facsimile signature drawn into the cover "tedjo-----ans / Paris 11-67". 38 pp. 8vo, 8 1/2" x 6". Includes a crudely folded and ill-fitting glassine wrapper. This book is #5 in the Surrealistisch Kabinet Nieuwe Reeks (New Series), edited by Dutch surrealist poet, essayist, translator, and publisher Laurens Vancrevel. Theodore "Ted" Joans was a self-proclaimed jazz poet, as well as a Surrealist and Dadaist artist, musician, and social activist. A wandering, world citizen, he returned to the United States bringing many influences to his active and influential artistic life. This unique composition of The Truth is scarce, with none found in the trade at this time. About Very Good condition.; Nieuwe Reeks (New Series); B&W Drawings; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 38 pages .