3 Poems by Jack Gilbert

2011

Dartmouth Book Arts Workshop

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Taking part in the Book Arts Programme at Dartmouth enabled History and Studio Art student, Do-Hee Kim, ‘to gain more experience with typography and design’ and ‘enhance [her] liberal arts education’. She printed three of Jack Gilbert’s poems on the Vandercook press. The American’s work appealed to Do-Hee’s romantic side; she describes his poetry as ‘painfully emotional’ but still ‘relatable’ and ‘accessible’. Gilbert (1925-2012) had a long career, mostly as an ex-patriate living in Europe. He gained a strong following, even though he was off the ‘literary radar’. The poem ‘Married’ may have been written after Gilbert’s Japanese wife, Michiko Nogami, died of cancer. Do-Hee Kim is now an established graphic designer in San Francisco.