Ten poems by Issa. English versions by Robert Bly. Illustrated by Arthur Okamura

First edition, first printing with 'Issa' in red, and the whole printed letterpress; subsequent issues were printed offset; approx. 4¼" 5?", pp. [8]; title page printed in red and black; 2 soft creases; very good. Reportedly, 500 copies were printed. This copy inscribed "For Jeanne / with fondness always - I say more water! more water! / Robert." "Ann Arbor and her husband John Rosenwald were in on the ground floor of the Great Mother Conference (1975). If Andy Dick, wasn't there, he was quickly involved. After the 1976 conference, the three of them, with Bly, formed the Great Mother Travelling Troupe that went around the Midwest for a few years doing crazy things, including Bly's play, 'The Thornbush Cock Giant.' Later, if not already, Andy's partner was Jeanne" (Gustfason). "This booklet is a gift, and not to be sold" (p. 2). "Issa was a Japanese poet, born in 1763, who died in 1827. He is the greatest haiku poet of the 19th century, the greatest frog poet in the world, the greatest fly poet in the world, and maybe the greatest child poet in the world. You can find more of his poems in A YEAR OF MY LIFE by ISSA, translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa, Univ. of California Press, $1.25, and in HAIKU, (4 volumes) (56.00 apiece) by R. H. BLYTH, Hokuseido Press, available through Japan Trading Co., P. O. Box 7752, Rincon Annex, 1255 Howard St, San Francisco, Cal. 94119" (p. 8). Gustafson B12a: "Bly distributed copies of this free pamphlet at his readings." OCLC locates 33 copies but without distinguishing among the three printings. In our experience, this first printing is quite uncommon, as we've handled at least 4 copies of the later printings, but never this first printing until now.…