ClarkCoolidge’sbook-lengthmeditationonacrystal--longconsideredamasterpieceofAmericanavant-gardepoetry--returnsinanewedition.“Nootherpoeteverhassoexquisitely,andsometimesalsoturbulently,writtensheersonicwonderintopoetry.“--LynHejinian,authorofMyLifeandMyLifeintheNinetiesInthesummerof1982,ClarkCoolidgereceivedanunexpectedgiftofacrystal;small,clear,entirelyunexceptional,thecrystalnonethelessprovokedthepoetintowritingwhathaslongbeenconsideredhismasterpiece,TheCrystalText(1986).Adurationalpoemcomposedoverthecourseof10months,indaybook-likeentriesofvaryinglength,TheCrystalTextismultifacetedandelusive,constantlyinterrogatingitself.IsitameditationonitstitularobjectlikeKeats’s“Urn“oraradicalinvestigationofthelimitsoflanguageasasignifyingsystem?Isthepoetchannelingthecrystaltoaccessitsmessageoristhecrystalchannelingthepoet,drawinglanguagefromhimtofillitscolorlessemptiness?Isitdictationorimprovisation?Isthepoemarecordofitsowncrystallinegrowthordoesitcapturetheprocessofconsciousnessitself?TheCrystalTextrefusestoresolvethequestionsitraisesbutratherinhabitsitsvariouspossibilitiessimultaneously,resultinginoneofthemajorworksoflate20thcenturyAmericanavant-gardepoetry.ThisneweditionincludesaprefacebypoetandscholarPeterGizziandanafterwordinwhichCoolidgediscussesthetextwithpoetJasonMorrisandCityLightseditorGarrettCaples.AssociatedwiththeNewYorkSchoolandsubsequentlyinspiringtheLanguagePoets,CoolidgeremainsoneofthemostsingularandoriginalAmericanpoetsofourtime.
