Be Brave to Things - The Uncollected Poetry and Plays of Jack Spicer

Jack Spicer

Summary

Be Brave to Things shows legendary San Francisco Renaissance poet Jack Spicer at the top of his form, with his blistering intelligence, painful double-edged wit, and devastating will to truth everywhere on display. Much of the poetry here has never before been published, but the volume also includes much out-of-print or hard to find work, as well as Spicer's three major plays, which have never been collected. Here one finds major unfinished projects, early and alternate versions of well-known Spicer poems, shimmering stand-alone lyrics, and intricate extended "books" and serial poems. This new cache of Spicer material will be indispensable for any student of 20th century American poetry, proffering a trove of primary material for Spicer's growing readership to savor and enjoy."When your body brushed against me..."When your body brushed against me I rememberedHow we used to catch butterflies in our handsDown in the garden.We were such patient childrenFollowing them from flower to flowerWaiting and hoping.With our cupped hands we used to catch themAnd they answered us with a soft tickleFor they never stopped flying.In bed I remembered them and cried forThe touch of their fast wings, the impatienceOf their bright colorsI am too old for such gamesBut even tonight, now your body has reminded me of butterfliesI lie here awake, pretending.

Available since: 11/09/2021.

Print length: 393 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Copenhagen Papers - An Intrigue

David Burke, Michael Frayn

In a brilliant coda to the play Copenhagen, Michael Frayn receives mysterious letters that take him back to the theme of his bestselling novel, Headlong -- human folly, this time his own.Michael Frayn's Copenhagen has established itself as one of the finest pieces of drama to grace the stage in recent years. The subject of the Tony-winning play is the strange visit the German nuclear physicist Werner Heisenberg made to his former mentor, scientist Niels Bohr, in Nazi-occupied Copenhagen and the quarrel that ensued. Heisenberg's intentions on that visit, for good or for evil, have long intrigued and baffled historians and scientists. One day, during the British run of Copenhagen, Frayn received a curious package from a suburban housewife, which contained a few faded pages of barely legible German writings. These pages, which she claimed to have found concealed beneath her floorboards, seemed to cast a remarkable new light on the mystery at the heart of play. As more material emerged -- specifically notes that appeared to give instructions on how to put up a table-tennis table but perhaps containing important encoded information -- actor David Burke, who was playing Niels Bohr, began to display extreme, even suspicious interest in Frayn's growing obsession with cracking the riddle of the papers. And Frayn, for his part, lost all sense of certainty. Was he the victim of an elaborate hoax? By turns comic and profound, The Copenhagen Papers explores the conundrum that is always at the heart of Frayn's work -- human gullibility and the eternal difficulty of knowing why we do what we do.

Show book

Navigating Avoidant Attachment -...

Nadia Marini

Navigating Avoidant Attachment: Overcome Emotional Distance and Build Stronger Connections in Every Area of Life 
Do you keep relationships at arm's length, even when you crave deeper connection? Does emotional closeness feel overwhelming, leaving you searching for escape routes? Do work relationships suffer because getting close to colleagues feels too intense? If you tend to pull away when things get personal, you might have an avoidant attachment style—but that doesn't have to define your relationships. 
Built on well-established attachment research and proven therapeutic approaches, Navigating Avoidant Attachment transforms complex psychological concepts into practical, actionable steps. Using the accessible Temperature Zone framework, you'll learn to read your body's signals and manage connections in ways that feel both safe and authentic. 
Inside, You'll Discover:A clear, science-based explanation of why avoidance develops and how it shapes all relationshipsThe unique Temperature Zone system for managing emotional overwhelmPractical strategies for staying present during difficult conversationsEssential tools for building trust while maintaining healthy boundariesSpecific guidance for navigating romantic relationships, family bonds, friendships, and professional connectionsReal-world techniques for handling conflict without shutting downStep-by-step approaches for deepening intimacy at your own pace 
Through practical exercises, real-life examples, and actionable strategies, you'll learn to build connections that feel both secure and authentic. 
Your purchase includes a bonus 2-week prompted journal designed specifically to help you implement these life-changing concepts.Transform your relationships today—get your copy now.

Show book

The Uncertainty Toolkit - Worry...

Sam Conniff, Katherine Templar...

For most of us, uncertainty is paralyzing, and the underlying cause of much of our anxiety about both our personal lives and the wider world. But even a cursory look at the news cycle shows that uncertainty isn’t going anywhere. The world – and our lives – will continue to change, at great pace and in unexpected ways.This pioneering, evidence-based book provides a clear blueprint for how to live successfully with uncertainty and even transform it into growth and opportunity.Together with professors at University College London, authors Katherine Templar-Lewis and Sam Conniff have led the world’s most extensive study in how to increase Uncertainty Tolerance and have used that research to create this plan. The Uncertainty Toolkit is based on cutting edge science, underpinned by personal accounts from ‘uncertainty experts’ – unlikely heroes including ex-prisoners, former addicts, refugees, gangland bosses and hostages who have channeled their exceptional experience of extreme ambiguity into mainstream world success.Featuring practical exercises, a scientifically-proven test to measure your Uncertainty Tolerance (and how it improves), and techniques that will deepen your knowledge of how the mind and body interact, The Uncertainty Toolkit is an invaluable guide for anyone looking to do more and worry less in our complex and ever-changing world.

Show book

No Place for Chivalry - RAF...

Alastair Goodrum

Fly shotgun with the pilots and crews of both sides who fought in the air at night over England during World War I and World War II.  In two world wars, a corridor from The Wash to Birmingham was turned into a fierce battleground. The air route from Germany and the occupied countries through this corridor, to targets right across the industrial heartland of England, became a three-dimensional combat zone that proved to be as grim a killing ground by night as anywhere else in the land. No Place for Chivalry encapsulates the story of the air defense of England against attack by night. By taking the area covered by RAF Wittering and Digby sectors, looking at the action of night fighter squadrons operating from those stations and their satellite airfields, the way the battle developed, its timeline of events, the events themselves and the organization of those involved, a coherent picture of how the night air defense of Britain evolved is formed.  The narrative is pitched at a level of detail and with such human-interest content that it enables readers not only to grasp what is happening and why but also to feel the tensions, frustrations and euphoria of success that the aircrews felt at the time. The reader gets a view from the cockpit or gun turret, to “meet” and “fly” with the men of both sides who fought in the air at night—men whose moral standards on the ground were above reproach but, when fighting in the night sky, gave no quarter.

Show book

Mythology for Kids: Captivating...

Matt Clayton

Two manuscripts in one audiobook:
- Egyptian Mythology for Kids: Captivating Tales and Myths of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Pharaohs
- Greek Mythology for Kids: Captivating Tales and Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Mythological Creatures, Heroes, Kings, and Villains
In the first part of this audiobook, you will learn about:
- The mummy’s curse—is it real?
- The ancient Egyptians had more than one creation story!
- Nobody knows who exactly built the pyramids. Was it slaves?
- Were there aliens in ancient Egypt?
- Which pharaoh was eaten by a hippopotamus?
- Egyptians took the meaning of “cat lover” to a whole new level.
- There were so many gods that even the Egyptians got them mixed up!
- Who was His Majesty “herself”?
In the second part of this audiobook, you will discover:
- Which of your favorite Disney characters and DC and Marvel superheroes were based on Greek gods and heroes?
- The twelve labors of Hercules
- Where the sayings “Pandora’s box” and “Achilles’ heel” come from
- Fearsome Greek monsters like giants, Cyclopes, Sirens, the Minotaur, dragons, centaurs, and more!
- The smart, strong, and brave women and goddesses that helped and fought alongside the heroes
- Which Greek monster inspired “Fluffy” in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- How long did the Trojan War last? And it only ended because of a wooden horse?
- Odysseus and the witch who kept him prisoner (you’ll recognize her name from the popular movie the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)
- Which Greek myth closely resembles a story from the Bible
- And so much more!
So, if you want a captivating collection of Egyptian and Greek myths, click the “add to cart” button!

Show book

Wisdom - The Light of...

Esther Jameson

Wisdom is a multifaceted quality that transcends the mere accumulation of facts and figures. It is the ability to perceive the deeper significance behind everyday experiences and to understand the interplay between knowledge and life’s unpredictable nature. Unlike raw information or even learned expertise, wisdom is characterized by a profound sense of balance and clarity that arises from an open mind and a reflective heart. It is an inner compass that guides us through the complexities of human existence, allowing us to navigate moral dilemmas, understand subtle nuances, and ultimately live in harmony with our values and the world around us.
At its core, wisdom emerges from the synthesis of diverse experiences, insights, and personal reflections. It is the culmination of lessons learned from both successes and failures, each contributing to a broader perspective on life. The journey to wisdom involves not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the deliberate practice of introspection. This process enables individuals to filter out the noise of everyday distractions and focus on what truly matters. Through this continuous engagement with our inner selves, we begin to understand that true wisdom is not static but a dynamic process of growth and self-improvement.
A key element of wisdom is the recognition of our own limitations. Understanding that no one can know everything opens the door to humility, which in turn fosters a mindset of continuous learning. This humility allows us to appreciate the complexity of life and respect the insights offered by others, regardless of their background or status. It is in this space of mutual respect and genuine curiosity that the seeds of wisdom are planted, nurtured by a willingness to question, reflect, and adapt. Furthermore, wisdom is not solely an individual pursuit; it flourishes in communities where shared experiences and collective reflection pave the way for deeper understanding.

Show book