Tom Clark: Some Good Wishes

Much beloved poet and friend to many via his wonderful blog and work, Tom Clark, is really going through a rough patch after being hit by a car a few weeks back.  Tom is at home but still faces a mighty uphill climb, not the least challenging of which is the health care system.  He is in pain and has a long way to go.

Let's all who know him send him our best (and maybe even if you don't know him - a little compassion goes a long way). A note of well wishing in the comment section of his blog Beyond the Pale might be just the ticket.

I've had a couple of Tom's books on hand for awhile here, meaning to do a post or posts on them both.  One is a wonderful chapbook of translations, TRANS/VERSIONS, the other is an excellent full length book of poems, The New World.

The translations/renderings are fine, measured, insightful poems, from the likes of Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, Reverdy, Vallejo, and Brecht.  A small volume that packs a decided wallop, Tom's is a refreshing, universal take on these masters, not at all pinned to a time or place, unless you call either the human experience.
 

 Photo by Juliet Clark

Since he is ill-disposed, I haven't had a chance to ask if it would be ok to reprint a poem or two, so you'll just have to take my word: both The New World and TRANS/VERSIONS are joys to hold and behold.  I can't think of a better way to lift a poet's spirits than to buy a book or two of work.  Visit Libellum Books at this or the two links above, or pick them up from SPD: Small Press Distribution.

So, how's about we give our friend a lift; a kind word or two, a couple of wrinkled bucks (tip of the hat, Ed), and maybe he'll have a little something to smile about?

Tom, we are all thinking about you.  Wishing you a steady, strong recovery.  And best to Angelica.

Cheers,
Don


P.S:  I've just heard from Angelica - Tom was sleeping before heading back still again to the doctor later today - that Tom had just approved the proofs of a new collection, Distance, before the accident and it is now ready for sale.

I'm jazzed and I am heading over to amazon to buy a copy now (there is an exception to every rule - my no amazon in this case goes out the window). It is published by BlazeVOX and here is the link:

Distance.

So, if you are missing Tom's voice right now, as so many of us are, here's your chance.

waiting and waiting
for sunset...
the willow tree

     Issa
     translated by David G. Lanoue

best,
Don

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