Visual poems

Peter Finch Visual Poetry

A small sample from the range of Peter Finch's visual compositions. These works always begin with a written form. Their origin is in language. They come from the tradition of concrete poetry although by now are at a considerable remove. Many have been exhibited, a range published by Bob Cobbing's Writers Forum and a large number included in Bill Griffith's microfiche series. Finch's book Dauber (Writers Forum) collects further examples of the poet's visual work. Visual poetry uses collage, text-manipulation, overlay, blur, daub, fade, rotate and ether driven creation in equal measure. It can be conceptual, concrete, mimetic, calligraphic, minimal, emotional, magnificent and mad. It is a tradition avoided by most of academia. It does not fit the usual slots. Enjoy it while you can. These are all thumbnails. Click on an image to view in larger size. Scroll down to view more. Examples of Peter Finch's visual poetry (or the use of the visual as a component of a longer poem) occur in almost all of his published volumes.
	The Mornings Of J H Prynne #1
	The Mornings of J H Prynne #2
	The Mornings of J H Prynne #3
	from Antarktika originally published as Writers Forum 'fives' number three (1973). The text derives from a cassette tape composition made by Finch in 1972
	500 Cobbings #1 from 500 Cobbings published in Antibodies, Stride (1997)
	500 Cobbings #2 from 500 Cobbings published in Antibodies, Stride (1997)
	The Adventures of S an early 70s poster composition published by Second Aeon.
	Dw'i ddim yn deall
	Sun Poem from Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
	Whitesung title poem from the Aquila pamphlet (1972)
	Moonsplats #1 non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications, 1972
	Moonsplats #2 non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications (1972)
	Moonsplats #3 non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications (1972)
	Blats (1999)
	The Way from The Cheng Man Ch'ing Variations (1990) included in Antibodies, Stride (1997) and originally published by Writers Forum.
	Haiku 1
	Haiku 2
	Haiku 3
	Haiku 4
	On Criticism #1 from On Criticism, Writers Forum (1984)
	Walking for Eric Mottram included in Useful, Seren (1997)
	dydi'r haf ex-Dafydd ap Gwilym
	Visual Text Makes It As SuperHero
	On Criticism #2 from On Criticism, Writers Forum (1984)
	The Defeated Texts # from Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
	One Inch Square Text included in Selected Poems, Poetry Wales Press (1987)
	Softdada included in Poems For Ghosts, Seren, (1991)
	Instantaneous Magnetism published in Some Music And A Little War Rivelin Grapheme Press, (1984)
	m mo o oo on n taken from Typewriter #4 (1973). Originally set in 14pt futura book at the Toothpaste Press in Iowa City, Iowa by Robert Calwell
	ooooooo non-poems made in 1970 and included in the collection Blats, second aeon publications, 1972
	The Boom Poster originally issued as a supplement to issue 8&9 of second aeon magazine in 1969