THE SEVEN-LEAGUE CRUTCHES with a Complete MANUSCRIPT of His Famous Poem "A Sick Child"
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, (1951). First Edition. Hardcover. His fourth book. INSCRIBED on the front free endpaper and pastedown and SIGNED by the poet to his friends and poets Meryl and Courtney Johnson. Jarrell has also written out the complete poem in the book, "A Sick Child":
The postman comes when I am still in bed.
"Postman, what do you have for me today?"
I say to him. (But really I'm in bed.)
Then he says - what shall I have him say?
"This letter says that you are president
Of - this word here; it's a republic."
Tell them I can't answer right away.
"It's your duty." No, I'd rather just be sick.
Then he tells me there are letters saying everything
That I can think of that I want for them to say.
I say, "Well, thank you very much. Good-bye."
He is ashamed, and turns and walks away.
If I can think of it, it isn't what I want.
I want . . . I want a ship from some near star
To land in the yard, and beings to come out
And think to me: "So this is where you are!
Come." Except that they won't do,
I thought of them. . . . And yet somewhere there must be
Something that's different from everything.
All that I've never thought of - think of me! Slight toning to text; covers a little marked with minor fraying along spine edge. Very Good in a Near Fine dustwrapper. Item #019813
Price: $7,500.00