Sparrow 40 Robert Creeley – Was That a Real Poem (1976) Black Sparrow Press

Description

SPARROW was a chapbook series published monthly by Black Sparrow Press beginning in the early 1970s, each issue spotlighting a single author or work in poetry, fiction, or criticism. With its compact size, minimalist design, and low price—often just 75 cents—SPARROW served as an accessible, democratic format for avant-garde voices, emerging talent, and literary outsiders. The series was the brainchild of John Martin, whose mission was to bring uncommercial, uncompromising literature to readers through bold typography, striking color choices, and high-quality production.

Each issue was saddle-stapled, typically running under 20 pages, and printed with a distinctive red ornamental border. Contributors included an eclectic range of writers: Charles Bukowski, Diane Wakoski, Robert Kelly, Clayton Eshleman, and Gerard Malanga. While not every issue is widely collected, many have become scarce, especially those featuring now-iconic writers in their early or experimental phases.

The 40th installment — Was That a Real Poem Or Did You Just Make It Up Yourself  — is a brief, elliptical collection. Creeley continues his signature exploration of rhythm, speech, and vulnerability—hallmarks of the Black Mountain tradition. The title itself hints at Creeley’s lifelong tension between poetic craft and improvisational impulse, a theme running throughout these compact, deceptively simple lines.

A witty, minimalist gem from one of postwar poetry’s most distinctive voices. Important and accessible and a solid piece of Black Sparrow ephemera.