“The Structure of Rime” is a serial poem; Robert Duncan numbered each sequence, publishing them in magazines as they were written. A collected edition has before never appeared, possibly because Duncan considered composing more poems in the series. The collection is an extended discussion and demonstration of his poetics, his belief in the open form, and in content unconstrained. Topics range from the pleasure of being read to as a child and the necessity for affectless recitation of poetry, to observations about the body politic and poetic.

The Structure of Rime brings together for the first time 45 poems, including several never before published. The book is augmented with three abstract etchings by California artist Frank Lobdell, who knew the author, as well as two photographic portraits of Duncan. Two black and white etchings by Lobdell are inset into windows on the front and back covers of the book. Each copy also comes accompanied by a separate black-and-white etching with aquatint, signed and numbered by the artist, presented in a folder.

The prints derive from forty small etchings with aquatint made by Frank Lobdell from 1987 to 2000. Most of the paper measures 11-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches, with some outliers, and plate sizes vary, typically 4 by 6 inches. The editions are mainly 20, a few are 35, and one is 50, plus artist’s proofs and printer’s proofs. The prints and books have been randomly paired.  

Production Details

• Edition of 275 numbered copies for sale

• Octavo, 11-1/4 by 7-1/2 inches, 96 pages

• Bound in full copper-colored Japanese cloth, with two etchings inset into the boards, in slipcase

• Accompanied by signed small etching, suitable for framing

• Arion Press publication #83, 2008