Rescuing Kelly Cherry
Before a meeting ad the San Diego Building Trades this afternoon I stopped at the Adams Avenue Bookstore to peruse their excellent and well organized (inappropriate cross-genre-ization very much annoys me) selection of used books. In the poetry section I came across Kelly Cherry’s book of poetry, God’s Loud Hand. Since I am trying to become financially responsible and support my local library I hadn’t intended on making a purchase. But, I couldn’t resist. Sure, I have a copy of the book at home but here was this book, this beautiful book, penned by this amazing and prolific author…I mean how could anyone sell it? There is so much intentionality in packing up books and bringing them to a used bookseller. Sure, I go to used bookstores and always find hidden treasures. Treasures I am glad others sold. I have become acquainted with authors and works I no doubt would never stumble across on the racks at Borders or at the library, and there is just something about touching and smelling books that beats browsing online. Some used books, no doubt, do not warrant the title as they have been neglected and gone unread. Many, however, are well-read. Maybe they are early copies sent to a reviewer and quickly sold to supplement your meager income. Maybe there is not enough room in your apartment for your books and your new baby. Maybe you caught the feng shui bug and cleared out your space. Maybe you died and your distressed lover filled boxes and called someone to take your most beloved books away. So many maybes. But today, for whatever reason, I was compelled to rescue this book. Like that cat at the shelter that melts your heart and robs your will without so much as a soft meow, I simply had to rescue God’s Loud Hand. I had to adopt it, give it a second home alongside its twin. At worst, I had a gift to pass along to someone special. I grabbed up the book and carried it with me as I browsed. You see, years ago, when I was slogging through a dark period, I had a bright spot once a week when I took a poetry workshop with Kelly Cherry. She was never selfish with her writing and took the time she could have given to her own work to read and engage and critique. It wasn’t until I got to the checkout that I realized I had left it behind. I must have set it down to open another book. I did not go back for the book. For better or worse I left it, somewhere unknown, for an employee to find and re-shelf, to put back in the poetry section for someone else to discover.
Leave a Reply