OLE Anthology – Three Charles Bukowski Poems (1967)

Published in 1967, OLE Anthology was publisher Doug Blazek’s opportunity to create a bookend after eight issues of the magazine. His long, nine-page introduction traces not only the evolution of the magazine, but the evolution of a young publisher and poet who was ending his old life in Illinois for a new life in California. The production quality of this final issue is also substantially higher than any of the individual issues.

Bukowski contributes three poems, all of which previously appeared in the magazine:

• Age
• Freedom
• O, We Are The Outcasts, O We Burn In Wondrous Flame!

Running 89 pages, Blazek includes poems from a long list of contributors, including Ron Offen, d.a. levy, Marcus J. Grapes, KAJA, Sid Shapiro, Al Purdy, Stanley Fisher, John Cornillon, Phil Kienholz, Ben Hiatt, T.L. Kryss, Dennis Williams, Rbt. Head, Don Cauble, John Turpin, Harold Norse, Alex Morra, Wm. Wantling, Kent Taylor, John Buckner, D.R. Wagner, Barbara O'Connelly, Larry Eigner, Rik Davis, George Sparling, Aram Boyajian, George Dowden, Dave Etter, Charles Bukowski, Steve Richmond, Tom McNamara, Gil Orlovitz, Wally Depew, Pete LaRouche, Brown Miller, Lee Harwood, George Montgomery, Richard Krech, Charles Plymell, Shael Herman, Dennis Saleh, Gerard Van Der Leun.

It’s a very fitting end to a very important poetry journal, not only publishing Bukowski but many other talented writers – including himself.

There were supposedly 5,000 copies published, this being hand-number #238, but I find that hard to believe

Blazek was a fellow poet and early proponent of Bukowski’s work. They were friends and had a lengthy correspondence between 1964 to 1968. As with several other writers, the relationship ended abruptly after their first meeting in person.

Blazek published Bukowski in all eight issues of Ole between 1964 and 1967, and was responsible for Bukowski’s return to prose, publishing the chapbooks CONFESSIONS OF A MAN INSANE ENOUGH TO LIVE WITH BEASTS and ALL THE ASSHOLES IN THE WORLD AND MINE.

This copy is in Very Good ++ condition. The front cover looks like it may have sat next to a rusting spiral notebook, but it almost looks like part of the design. The perfect bound binding is solid.

Box 45