Firedogs: abstract

1991; edition of 28
14 x 9.5 in, 356 x 241 mm; 22 pp.

Eleven double sheets folded at the head to give 22 pages printed by letterpress from Stephenson Blake Bodoni. Worn type turned on its side gives a stark image of heat and cold, stick and ash. The cover has a polychrome image printed on paper over boards, and the book is held in a paper slipcase.

Firedogs: abstract carries the poetry to be found in the larger and much more complex Firedogs; it was done as a typographic press-up, a clean-fingered exercise. I had the type for the poems in Firedogs standing and thought to find out if I could make a very simple, reserved book: a nod to those who, over time, had asked for the poetry to be released from the graphic intricacies of the main body of work.