"Prose Marine"

Component identifier:

Item 36

Content Summary:

Autograph manuscript. 6pp. A fine specimen of Brennan's "exhibition" writing. Designed by him as a showpiece, and specially bound by him in brown paper wrappers. Titled on front, with a device drawn upon back cover.

In full leather binding. Inserted is a clipping from Southerly, November, 1950, of the text of a variant version of the poem, printed from another script in the Mitchell Library, under the title "Marine". It has been included so that a comparison may be made of the variant texts.

As with the Mitchell script, there is not one single mark of punctuation from the beginning to the end of the poem. Upon the half-title Brennan has written: "Berlin September 1893 to March 1894". On the last page is written: "June 1894 written at sea revised March 29 1898". The manuscript demonstrates Brennan's dislike for punctuation, and his dictum that it "is a curse".

The title for this poem echoes Mallarmé's "Brise Marine".

Names:

Christopher Brennan

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