Designed, written, illustrated, and printed by Carol Cunningham, with the first publication of a new poem by Kay Ryan.

Mill Valley, CA; Sunflower Press, 2003. Hardcover. As new from the printer. First edition. Unpaginated (40 pp), measuring 8 1/8 (height) x 5 1/2 (depth) inches. A handmade book printed letterpress from hand-set 18 pt. Centaur. Illustrated with 15 color copies of original watercolors. Hand-bound by Joseph D’Ambrosio in ¼ green Japanese paper with paper label on spine, green endpapers, and a delicate green silk brocade over boards with dragonfly motif.

Limited to 28 copies each numbered and signed by Carol Cunningham on the colophon, and facsimile signature of Kay Ryan on the page with her poem.

This uplifting book is the first publication of 12 new Haiku poems celebrating the vibrant return of spring. The poems are beautifully complimented with Carol’s bright watercolor landscape images. Dragonfly also contains the first published appearance of a poem titled “By Bird” written by Kay Ryan (San Francisco-based poet and author). The shimmering green silk of the binding almost makes it seem as if the dragonflies are in motion, singing out “Hurray, it’s Spring!”

News: we are very pleased to note that Kay Ryan has won the 2004 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. Established in 1986, the Prize is one of the most prestigious given to American poets, and at $100,000 it is one of the largest literary honors for work in the English language. Kay Ryan is also a recipient of a 2004 Guggenheim Foundation Grant.