Caterpillar, Sulfur, transition.
Our take
Dive into the vibrant world of poetry with the Centre for Expanded Poetics' Archive section, featuring the complete runs of three influential publications: *Caterpillar* (1967-1973), *Sulfur* (1981-2000), and *transition* (1927-1938). *Caterpillar*, initiated by Clayton Eshleman, emerged as a groundbreaking series of chapbooks, showcasing innovative voices and transformative ideas. Meanwhile, *Sulfur* and *transition* pushed the boundaries of poetic expression in their respective eras, inviting readers to explore the evolution of thought
The recent discovery of the Centre for Expanded Poetics' Archive, featuring the complete runs of *Caterpillar*, *Sulfur*, and *transition*, is more than a simple literary find; it's a treasure trove of poetic history that invites us to reconsider the evolution and relevance of these influential publications. *Caterpillar*, initiated by Clayton Eshleman, introduced a host of avant-garde writers to the scene, including Jackson Mac Low and Paul Blackburn. This legacy resonates as we explore how these voices shaped the fabric of modern poetry. It’s reminiscent of our own inquiries into immersion learning, where we ponder the tools that help us navigate language and culture, as seen in the article Just curious, what tools do you actually use to read/listen to content in your target language before you're fluent?. The excitement surrounding these archives ignites a desire to delve deeper into what poetry can teach us about ourselves and our shared histories.
The presence of *Sulfur* and *transition* in this archival collection is equally compelling. For many readers and writers, *Sulfur* was a beacon in the 1980s, a journal that not only showcased works but also influenced poetic discourse. It challenged established norms and expanded the definition of what poetry could be, much like the unexpected revelations we encounter in articles examining historical narratives, such as What Happened to Jesus’ Twelve Disciples After the Bible—It Wasn’t Pretty. This connection between poetry and history is essential; both tell stories, provoke thought, and invite us to question what we think we know. The revival of these journals provides a fertile ground for understanding the interplay between language, culture, and identity.
What makes the archival inclusion of *transition* particularly notable is its role as a bridge from the early 20th century to the contemporary poetic landscape. This journal was a pioneer in exploring the intersections of various artistic expressions—poetry, visual art, and critical theory. It reflects an era that sought to break free from traditional constraints, much like how we explore new vocabularies in our own learning journeys, as discussed in the article Interstitium, Apoplast. The very essence of these publications calls to mind the importance of innovation and experimentation in both art and education. They encourage us to embrace the unconventional, to burrow deeper, much like Spoot itself, into the nooks and crannies of creative expression.
As we celebrate the re-emergence of these pivotal literary works, we must also reflect on their implications for contemporary readers and writers. What lessons can we extract from the past to inform our present? The excitement surrounding these archives is not just nostalgia; it's a call to action for a new generation of poets and thinkers. Engaging with the works of Eshleman, Antin, and their contemporaries compels us to confront our own assumptions about art and expression. In a world that often feels fragmented, how can we harness the wisdom of these voices to foster a more cohesive understanding of our literary and cultural heritage? The journey into these archives is just beginning, and the conversations they inspire may very well shape the future of poetry as we know it. Stay tuned; the exploration is bound to be as slippery and surprising as the razor clam itself.
I was excited to discover that the Centre for Expanded Poetics has an Archive section that presents the complete runs of Caterpillar (1967-1973), Sulfur (1981-2000), and transition (1927-1938). I don’t remember being aware of the first (which you can read about here: “Caterpillar was started by Clayton Eshleman as a series of chapbooks by such writers as Jackson Mac Low, David Antin, Paul Blackburn, and Louis Zukofsky”), but the other two are very familiar; I was excited when Sulfur first came out (I’ve probably got the first few issues kicking around somewhere), and of course transition is known to every aficionado of English-language modernism. What a gift to the online world!
For those who don’t care about defunct little magazines, try sengi, which is really two different words, one meaning ‘elephant shrew’ (from Swahili sengi, probably from another Bantu language) and the other the name of a former monetary unit of Zaire, one hundredth of a likuta and one ten-thousandth of a zaire — you might think it was named after the little mammal, but no, it’s from Kongo sengi, senki, from French cinq (in the sense of five sous). The second is in the OED but not, so far, the first.
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience