Paul Brown, poet

Paul Brown is criminally under-read and under-rated. So under-rated that in spite of the fact that my copy of his book meetings and pursuits comes inscribed to Lee Harwood, "For Lee, Pages in the education of an alien? Paul 11-7-79", it was pretty much cheap-as-chips to buy on abebooks. Although I get the feeling I was lucky to find a copy at all. His books include 'MASKER' (Galloping Dog Press 1982) which I have never been able to find, and Gingerbread House (Share 1975), ditto. But rest assured I am thoroughly, ravenously hungry for these books after reading meetings and pursuits.

For example, this bit from the poem Grin without a cat, which i find tender and embarassed:

'Couldn't find a word
with butterfly in it

Like coulours
not making'

or this, where the whole idea of line-breaking is mocked while being employed to glorious, stylish, fascinating effect:

'It is a smallish pic
ture but since its dis

patch has had lovers of every des
cription and sex, this:

girl with parrot
on her shoulder'