This book brings together poems by Nelson Ball written from 1964 to 1971, selected from his published and unpublished work. Nelson Ball operated Weed Flower Press from 1965 to 1974, publishing small books of poetry by Canadian, American, and British poets. In 1974, Frank Davey wrote, “The unique contribution of Nelson Ball to contemporary Canadian poetry has been almost totally neglected. Ball is a poet of the minimal image; his poems, like the haiku, aim to combine the utmost economy with the sharpest possible visual clarity. They are brief, understated, and—on close scrutiny—explosive.” (From There to Here)

Nelson Ball is a poet and bookseller living in Paris, Ontario, who has been writing since the early 1960s. He has worked as a labourer, chauffeur, clerk, seasonal forest ranger, record store clerk, and janitor. From 1965 to 1973 he ran the legendary Weed/Flower Press, publishing mimeo editions of early books by Victor Coleman, Carol Bergé, David McFadden, bill bissett, bpNichol, and many others. Nelson is the author of more than 30 poetry books and chapbooks. He and his late wife, the artist Barbara Caruso, are the subject of Catherine Stevenson's 2014 documentary film Nelson Ball & Barbara Caruso / Home Project / A Photo Documentary.

Nelson Ball's profile page

“A loving and lovely collection of exquisitely precise minimal poems . . . A wonderful book, arousing my desire for the new poems I hope to read soon.”  —Books in Canada