Its Course (96—7)
Sinew (98—9)
Eagles (100)
Elk Camp (101—2)
Earwigs (103—4)
The Fishing Pole of the Drowned Man (105)
My Boat (106—7)
Shooting (108)
Cutlery (109—10)
IV
Work (113)
Cadillacs and Poetry (114—5)
The Hat (116—18)
The Young Fire Eaters of Mexico City (119)
Powder-Monkey (120—1)
The Pen (122—3)
The Pipe (124)
What You Need for Painting (125)
Bonnard’s Nudes (126)
A Squall (127)
Kafka’s Watch (128)
My Work (129—30)
The Garden (131—2)
My Crow (133)
Grief (134)
Bahia, Brazil (135—6)
The House behind This One (137)
Reading (138—9)
Evening (140)
Spell (141—2)
The Schooldesk (143—5)
V
After Rainy Days (149)
Hominy and Rain (150—1)
Radio Waves (152—3)
The Phenomenon (154)
Fear (155)
The Mail (156—7)
Egress (158—9)
The River (160)
Migration (161—2)
Sleeping (163)
An Account (164—5)
Simple (166)
Sweet Light (167)
Listening (168)
The Eve of Battle (169—70)
The Caucasus: A Romance (171—3)
The Rest (174)
VI
Locking Yourself Out, Then Trying to Get Back In (177—8)
The Old Days (179—80)
Mesopotamia (181—2)
The Possible (183—4)
Waiting (185)
In Switzerland (186—8)
Ask Him (189—91)
Yesterday, Snow (192—3)
Where Water Comes Together with Other Water (194—5)
The Fields (196—7)
Slippers (198)
Circulation (199—200)
Scale (201—2)
Asia (203—4)
The Gift (205—6)
The notes to Where Water Comes Together with Other Water and Ultramarine indicate which poems from those two books were included in In a Marine Light. The following poems were not included in In a Marine Light:
Where Water Comes Together with Other Water
Movement
The Road
The Ashtray
Medicine
Rain
Aspens
At Least
The Grant
The Poem I Didn’t Write
In the Year 2020
The Juggler at Heaven’s Gate
My Daughter and Apple Pie
Commerce
Next Door
The Party
Interview
The Windows of the Summer Vacation Houses
Away
Music
Plus
Extirpation
The Catch
My Death
Afghanistan
Reading Something in the Restaurant
A Poem Not against Songbirds
Late Afternoon, April 8, 1984
Ultramarine
An Afternoon
The Cobweb
Memory [2]
Stupid
The Jungle
The Sensitive Girl
The Minuet
A Tall Order
Where the Groceries Went
Vigil
In the Lobby of the Hotel del Mayo
Wind
The Best Time of the Day
Company
Yesterday
The Prize
Loafing
The Debate
September
Heels
The Phone Booth
The Scratch
The Child
After Reading Two Towns in Provence
Appendix 5
Bibliographical and Textual Notes
Abbreviations
1st First magazine appearance or separate publication
ANP A New Path to the Waterfall (New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989)
ANTSM At Night the Salmon Move (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Capra Press, 1976)
AUP Advance uncorrected proof (publisher’s paperbound uncorrected page proofs sent to review sources in advance of finished book)
F Fires (Santa Barbara, Calif.: Capra Press, 1983)
EFTD Early for the Dance (Concord, NH: William B. Ewert, 1986)
IAML In a Marine Light: Selected Poems (London: Collins Harvill, 1987)
NHP No Heroics, Please: Uncollected Writings (London: Harvill, 1991)
NK Near Klamath (Sacramento, Calif.: English Club of Sacramento State College, 1968). Note: Because NK is unpaginated, page references to it are given in brackets.
RC Raymond Carver
TD Those Days: Early Writings by Raymond Carver, ed. William L. Stull (Elmwood, Conn.: Raven Editions, 1987)
TW This Water (Concord, NH: William B. Ewert, 1985)
U Ultramarine (New York: Random House, 1986)
WI Winter Insomnia (Santa Cruz, Calif.: Kayak Books, 1970)
WWCT Where Water Comes Together with Other Water (New York: Random House, 1985)
Notes
Fires: Essays, Poems, Stories
First edition: Santa Barbara, Calif.: Capra Press, 1983. A Noel Young Book. Simultaneously published in hardcover and paperback. Publication date: 14 Apr. 1983.
First signed, limited edition: “Printed April 1983 for Capra Press by the Kingsport Press. Two hundred & fifty copies have been numbered and signed by the author and bound into boards” (limitation leaf).
First expanded edition: New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1984. Adds “The Paris Review Interview”. Publication date: 30 May 1984.
First English edition: London: Collins Harvill, 1985. Omits “The Paris Review Interview” and the “Afterword”; adds “My Father’s Life” and “John Gardner: The Writer as Teacher”. Publication date: 15 Apr. 1985.
Dedication: For Tess
Epigraph: From “Cows Grazing at Sunrise” by William Matthews, Flood (Boston: Little, Brown, 1982) 4.
Copy-text: First edition, first printing, collated and corrected against later editions and printings overseen by RC.
Small-press sources and separate publications: NK, WI, ANTSM, Distress Sale (Lord John, 1981), Two Poems (Scarab, 1982), At Night the Salmon Move (Capra, 1983), Looking for Work/Downstream (n.p., 1988).
1 DRINKING WHILE DRIVING: in NK [26], WI 55.
1—2 It is August.
I have not read a book in six months NK, WI
8 go, / go NK, WI
15 will / is going to NK, WI
2 LUCK: 1st in Kayak [Santa Cruz, Calif.] 50 (May 1979): 40; in The Poet’s Choice, a special issue of Tendril [Green Harbor, Mass.] 9 (1980): 43—4.
4 drank, too, but they
could handle it. 1st, Tendril
21 to take / and took 1st
28—9 at the starry sky —
it was always starry then 1st, Tendril
38 morning. / morning, 1st, Tendril
39—40 I saw a woman sleeping on our lawn. Tendril
42 then / and then 1st
54 no one / nobody 1st, Tendril
55 luck, I / luck I Tendril
59—61 for a house where nobody
was home, and all I could drink. 1st, Tendril
3 DISTRESS SALE: 1st in Kayak [Santa Cruz, Calif.] 49 (Oct. 1978): 16—17; separately published as a broadside (Northridge, Calif.: Lord John Press, 1981).
2—7 the child’s canopy bed and vanity
table, the sofa, end tables and lamps,
the boxes of assorted books and records.
We carried out kitchen items,
a clo
ck radio, hanging clothes, a big easy
chair that had been with them from the beginning 1st
10 and they set themselves up around that
to do business. 1st
12 I’m staying there with them trying to dry out 1st
15 It’s / It is 1st
24—5 of clothing before moving on.
Everyone who wanders into this scene is embarrassed.
The man, my friend, sits at the table 1st
32 This reduces us all. Is this what we’ve come to? 1st
38 I reach for my wallet before I understand 1st
I reach for my wallet and that is how I understand:
Lord John
4 YOUR DOG DIES: 1st in CutBank [Univ. of Montana, Missoula] 1 (1973): 32; in ANTSM 25.
14 it / the dog afterwards 1st, ANTSM
16 it / it, 1st
25 hear / suddenly hear 1st
5 PHOTOGRAPH OF MY FATHER IN HIS TWENTY-SECOND YEAR: 1st in Colorado Quarterly [Univ. of Colorado, Boulder] 17.2 (Autumn 1968): 162; in NK [13], WI 17. All lines begin with capital letters in 1st, NK, and WI.
6 denim / levi 1st
7 1934 Ford / Ford circa 1934 1st, NK, WI
9 wear his old hat cocked over his ear, stick out his tongue…1st, NK, WI
13 And the beer. Father I loved you, 1st
And the bottle of beer. Father, I loved you, NK, WI
14 Yet how can I say thank you, I who cannot hold my liquor either 1st, NK, WI
15 don’t / do not 1 st, NK, WI
6 HAMID RAMOUZ (1818—1906): 1st in Mississippi Review [Univ. of Southern Mississippi] 21 [7.3] (Fall 1978): 118.
1 began / started 1st
3 gunshot / gutshot 1st
7 BANKRUPTCY: in NK [7], WI 24. All lines begin with capital letters in NK.
8 THE BAKER: 1st in Kayak [Santa Cruz, Calif.] 50 (May 1979): 41; separately published with “Louise” in Two Poems (Salisbury, Md.: Scarab Press, 1982).
5—6 Pancho introduced his new girl friend
and her husband who was made to wear
his white apron, 1st
8 him / him everything 1st
17—18 The husband crossed himself,
took off his boots and
silently left the house 1st
22—3 humiliated, trying to save his life,
he is the hero of this poem. 1st
9 IOWA SUMMER: 1st in Chelsea [New York, NY] 22—3 (June 1968): 57—8; in NK [2], WI 27. All lines begin with capital letters in 1st, NK, and WI.
Title: “Iowa Summer 1967” NK, WI
7—12 It is only later, after they have gone,
I realize they have delivered a letter from my wife.
“What are you doing there?” my wife asks. “Are you drinking?”
I study the postmark for hours until it, too, begins to fade.
Someday, I hope to forget all this. 1st, NK, WI
10 ALCOHOL: 1st in New England Review [Hanover, NH] 4.4 (Summer 1982): 530.
33—4 [stanza break between these lines in 1st]
35—6 You hear the song. 1st
11 FOR SEMRA, WITH MARTIAL VIGOR: 1st in Beloit Poetry Journal [Ellsworth, Maine] 16.2 (Winter 1965—6): 17—19; in NK [20—3], WI 40—1.
6 things as well / things 1st, NK, WI
19—20 [stanza break between these lines in 1st]
33—4 O Semra Semra
Istanbul nee
Constantinople
Next to Paris she said 1st, NK
49—53 [omitted in WI]
50 goddamn / goddam 1st, NK
12 LOOKING FOR WORK [1]: in WI 16; see “Looking for Work” [2] in ANP; separately published with “Downstream” ANP as a broadside (n.p.: 1988). The F version differs from the texts in WI and ANP, which are identical. The broadside, which otherwise agrees with WI and ANP, lacks the comma ending line 6 (likely a typographical error).
1 I’ve / I have WI, broadside, ANP
13 door. / door, WI, broadside, ANP
14 They are gleaming. / gleaming. WI, broadside, ANP
13 CHEERS: 1st in Esquire [New York, NY] 86.1 (July 1976): 12; in Prism International [Univ. of British Columbia] 21.2 (Winter 1982): 28.
7—8 or else they call, Come out and play,
Raymond. 1st
13 dropped / stopped 1st
14 ROGUE RIVER JET-BOAT TRIP, GOLD BEACH, OREGON, JULY 4, 1977: 1st in Antioch Review [Antioch Univ.] 36.3 (Summer 1978): 372.
Title: TRIP,/TRIP 1st
2 marten, osprey / marten, mink, osprey 1st
4 family, / family 1st
20—1 His good eye, the left, is brown,
is steady of purpose, and doesn’t 1st
24 youth, and / and youth and 1st
28 I am not drinking, though I am still weak 1st
15 YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (AN EVENING WITH CHARLES BUKOWSKI): 1st in Crazyhorse [Univ. of Arkansas, Little Rock] 12 (Autumn 1972): 1—5; in ANTSM 33—37.
21 [omitted in ANTSM]
62 could / would 1st, ANTSM
118 old now / old ANTSM
16 MORNING, THINKING OF EMPIRE: 1st in Kayak [Santa Cruz, Calif.] 27 (1971): 49; in ANTSM 11. All lines begin with capital letters in 1st.
1 rim / rims 1st, ANTSM
4—6 Eyes and fingers drop onto silverware that is not
silverware. Outside the window, waves beat against
the chipped white walls of the old city. Suddenly, 1st, ANTSM
7 Your / your ANTSM
9 To hell with the future, I want to say. 1st, ANTSM
17 THE BLUE STONES: 1st in Mississippi Review [Univ. of Southern Mississippi] 21 [7.3] (Fall 1978): 114—15.
9 Jones’ landing appears out ANTSM
29 further / farther ANTSM
19 THE NEWS CARRIED TO MACEDONIA: 1st in Discourse [Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.)] 11.4 (Autumn 1968): 439—40; in WI 9—10.
34 The / the 1st, WI
41—4 wind
bird flocks fill the air
they clack their bills
with a sound like iron on iron 1st, WI
44—5 [stanza break between these lines in WI]
48 trail / smell 1st, WI
52—4 the Hetaeri touches
each of the sleeping
soldiers 1st, WI
20 THE MOSQUE IN JAFFA: in WI 15.
7 Killed he says WI
8 Words / words WI
14 love murder / murder love WI
26—7 Time is running out as
I look at me from his dark eyes. WI
21 NOT FAR FROM HERE: in WI 29. All lines begin with capital letters in WI.
5 careful. / careful, WI
6 I look / Look WI
12 do you / d’you WI
14 in / There in WI
16 closer, kneel / closer WI
18 Corpse, she whispers. The dog grins. WI
19—20 But I don’t have time for games
This morning and send her away WI
22 SUDDEN RAIN: 1st in Midwest Quarterly [Pittsburg (Kans.) State Univ.] 14.1 (Oct. 1972): 63; in ANTSM 18.
8 the narrow streets. / narrow streets 1st, ANTSM
9 and roll my eyes and clatter against stones. 1st, ANTSM
23 BALZAC: 1st in Levee [Sacramento State Univ.] 2.2 (Jan. 1967): 4; in NK [11], Carolina Quarterly [Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill] 21.3 (Fall 1969): 21, WI 34.
3—4 the mist rising from his face and
shoulders, the gown clinging 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI
7—8 [stanza break between these lines in 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI]
10 stroke / smooth 1st, NK
11 young / the young 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI
13 by, / by 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI
14—15 [stanza break between these lines in 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI]
20 early / fragile, early 1st, NK, Carolina Quarterly, WI
21—5 chamberpot. 1st, NK, Carol
ina Quarterly, WI
24 COUNTRY MATTERS: 1st in Ploughshares [Emerson College] 2.3 (1975): 92; in ANTSM 19.
1 grass, / grass ANTSM
8 call. / call; 1st, ANTSM
9 Shreds / shreds 1st, ANTSM
10—11 float out onto the wintry air,
but the girl does not turn her head, 1st, ANTSM
12 Cook / cook 1st, ANTSM
13 sill. / sill, 1st, ANTSM
13—14 in 1st and ANTSM there is an additional line between these lines:
their faces marred with tears, their hair 1st
their faces marred with tears, hair ANTSM
14 knotted. He leans closer to hear the small 1st, ANTSM
15 whisperings, the broken / whispering, the unhappy 1st
whisperings, the unhappy ANTSM
25 THIS ROOM: 1st in West Coast Review [Simon Fraser Univ.] 2.1 (Spring 1967): 22; in Grande Ronde Review [Sacramento, Calif.] 7 [2.1] (n.d. [1967]): 10, WI 51.
4 Promises promises 1st, Grande Ronde Review
7 parasols, / parasols 1st, Grande Ronde Review, WI
8 sea, / sea 1st, Grande Ronde Review, WI
10 behind - / behind 1st, Grande Ronde Review, WI
11 listening smoking 1st, Grande Ronde Review
12 taking notes? 1st, Grande Ronde Review, WI
13—16 [omitted in 1st, Grande Ronde Review, WI
26 RHODES: in ANTSM 20—1.
2 or / nor ANTSM
6 nearby / near ANTSM
10 stay, / stay ANTSM
11 though / but ANTSM
17 stiff / stone ANTSM
18 figure of a man keeps watch
on Turkey. ANTSM
21 from its tail and heads
for cover. ANTSM
30 there’s / I sense ANTSM
35—6 as my soul, like a cat, leaps into sleep. ANTSM
27 SPRING, 480 BC: 1st in Toyon [Humboldt State Univ.] 9.1 (Spring 1963): 17; in Western Humanities Review [Univ. of Utah] 17.3 (Summer 1963): 264, NK [27], ANTSM 15, Poetry Now [Eureka, Calif.] 15—18 [3.3—6] (1977): 19. In Toyon the poem is published under the pseudonym John Vale.
9 that / the 1st, Western Humanities Review, NK, ANTSM, Poetry Now
10 fetters, / fetters 1st, Western Humanities Review, NK, ANTSM, Poetry Now
28 NEAR KLAMATH: in NK [1], WI 46, Sou’wester Literary Quarterly [Southern Illinois Univ., Edwardsville] Winter 1972: 36.
3—4 [no stanza break in NK, WI, Sou’wester Literary Quarterly]
5 drink it / drink NK, WI, Sou’wester Literary Quarterly
6—7 [no stanza break in NK, WI, Sou’wester Literary Quarterly]