Crucifix in a Deathhand title (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dora
- Start date
I think the "geographical meaning" you suggest has to do with the context in which the line is used:
...we are in a basin. that is the
idea. down in the sand and the alleys,
this land punched-in, cuffed-out, divided,
held like a crucifix in a deathhand,
this land bought, resold, bought again and
sold again, the wars long over,
the Spaniards all the way back in Spain
down in the thimble again, and now
real estaters, subdividers, landlords, freeway
engineers arguing...
Buk is using "crucifix in a deathhand" as imagery for how people possess land and guard it fiercely, argue over it, etc. Crucifix in a deathhand could be viewed two ways:
1. Holding something dear in a death grip; or
2. Holding something that was god's will the white man shall have dominion over in a rigor-mortis-induced state of immobility. In other words, the concept of god giving the white man dominion over the land actually leads to an unsatisfied death rather than the success that so many associate with the accumulation of commodities, such as land.
That's my take, but I don't like to analyze this stuff. :aerb:
...we are in a basin. that is the
idea. down in the sand and the alleys,
this land punched-in, cuffed-out, divided,
held like a crucifix in a deathhand,
this land bought, resold, bought again and
sold again, the wars long over,
the Spaniards all the way back in Spain
down in the thimble again, and now
real estaters, subdividers, landlords, freeway
engineers arguing...
Buk is using "crucifix in a deathhand" as imagery for how people possess land and guard it fiercely, argue over it, etc. Crucifix in a deathhand could be viewed two ways:
1. Holding something dear in a death grip; or
2. Holding something that was god's will the white man shall have dominion over in a rigor-mortis-induced state of immobility. In other words, the concept of god giving the white man dominion over the land actually leads to an unsatisfied death rather than the success that so many associate with the accumulation of commodities, such as land.
That's my take, but I don't like to analyze this stuff. :aerb:
Skygazer
And in the end...
I think the same, that it's a reference to the punch drunk, battle weary place looking for redemption. Interesting that in the Sounes book "Locked in the arms..." he claims that the title (of the book) was chosen by Webb and that Bukowski had reservations about it.It iifferent from the first one with the Jeffers sentence "... Catches my heart in it's hand".
you can start here..
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Se...ults&an=&tn=crucifix+in+a+deathhand&kn=&isbn=
i've had success with the "make them an offer" approach on abebooks.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Se...ults&an=&tn=crucifix+in+a+deathhand&kn=&isbn=
i've had success with the "make them an offer" approach on abebooks.
I don't see that option on abebooks (I have a french version, maybe it's different), I can contact the seller but that's it.
I was thinking more of informations from the past years, if someone is looking at the market (or if someone want to sell). I'm checking abebooks and ebay since 1,5 years I would say, and for now the cheapest I saw was around 200$. I'm not used to put that kind of amount for a book, but to own a book from Loujon Press would be very cool.
I was thinking more of informations from the past years, if someone is looking at the market (or if someone want to sell). I'm checking abebooks and ebay since 1,5 years I would say, and for now the cheapest I saw was around 200$. I'm not used to put that kind of amount for a book, but to own a book from Loujon Press would be very cool.
yeah i meant just contacting the seller and asking nicely for a discount. it usually works.
here's a couple that sold within the last 5 years for market value sake.
https://www.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=790+231&Nty=1&Ntt=crucifix+bukowski&ic10=ArchiveTab-071515
here's a couple that sold within the last 5 years for market value sake.
https://www.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=790+231&Nty=1&Ntt=crucifix+bukowski&ic10=ArchiveTab-071515
Depends a lot on the condition you'd request.
If you can live with a couple of minor flaws (and assuming you're no hardcore collector, you definitely can) it goes at amazingly cheap prizes.
This IS, what I call amazingly cheap.
I've bought mine for about 250.- USD somewhen around 2004-2006 and I don't regret even one penny.
It is signed, It is important in Bukowski's career (of course not as much as "it catches"), It is handsome and well crafted. It is historic (1965!).
And the Dollar is low now.
What else could you want? Even 300.- would be a steal (in my oppinion), given it's not a beat-up copy.
