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Poems by Tony Curtis found loose in the archive, the work dating from the 1960s through to approximately the late 1990s/2000. Many of the poems have been included in published collections of Curtis's work, some of which are described within this archive (for a bibliographical list, see, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Curtis_(Welsh_poet). Some of the poems reflect Curtis's life situation at the time of writing, for example his periods of teaching in Cheshire and Yorkshire during the 1970s ('New Post'. 'End of Term', 'Quatrains for a Cheshire May', 'Quatrains for a Cheshire November'). Different versions of the same poem are grouped together so that Curtis's development of the poem from initial rough draft(s) may be traced, with some poem titles changing over time (order in which drafts appear here does not necessarily reflect original development of poems). Occasionally, more than one poem (eg 'Annie', 'The Loft') bear the same title. Some poems have been signed by Curtis and some are dated, occasionally with a brief note relating to, for example, where the poem was published or whether or not the poem had been reworked. Untitled poems are identified by their first line. The poem 'Tramp' is included as a contribution to the 1968 issue of Swansea University student magazine Dawn. Related material, such as press cuttings, information from printed sources and correspondence, are attached to some of the poems. Additional material relating to the poem 'Reg Webb' includes a prose piece by Curtis titled 'Standing in the drafts: writing Reg Webb'.

The poem 'Trek Across Kinder Scout' was contributed by Tony Curtis to the volume Three Young Anglo-Welsh Poets, published by the then Welsh Arts Council in 1974, the other two contributors being Duncan Bush and Nigel Jenkins (see, for example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Bush and Nigel Jenkins Papers at the National Library of Wales). For the collection, see, for example, under heading Three Young Anglo-Welsh Poets (Welsh Arts Council, 1974) and https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1652408.3_Young_Anglo_Welsh_Poets.

Please note that many of these poems may also be found under other headings within this archive.

The material includes an adaptation by Curtis of a poem translated from the Italian by the writer and translator Andrea Bianchi (see 'Sunday Morning in Alba') (for Andrea Bianchi, see, for example: https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/minorities-not-minority-series-2-poets-from-romagna/various/9781907090783) .

Additionally, the following are kept in box containing poems T-Y:
Untitled, fragmentary and rough draft poems (kept in marked folder).
Drafts of contents and acknowledgements pages, many annotated, in preparation for inclusion in published collections of Tony Curtis's poems.
Various poems by Curtis, titled 'Inspiration', 'Tidal', 'Soup', 'Nativity', 'Reg Webb', 'My Papa's Waltz', 'Spring Fed', and the prose piece 'Tortoise' (for which see under heading General prose), the individual works pasted together on sheets of paper.

For Denise Levertov and Michael Harper (see 'Third Didactic Poem' and 'At Abercanaid with Denise Levertov and Michael Harper'), see under heading USA: festivals, inspirations and collaborations. Included with the poem 'At Abercanaid with Denise Levertov and Michael Harper' is a poem by Michael Harper titled 'Visit to Abercanaid', subtitled 'for Denise Levertov'.

WARNING: POEM TITLED 'AFTER THE CRASH' CONTAINS REFERENCES TO CANNIBALISM (See also under heading 'Preparations' within this archive) FACTUAL ACCOUNT, WITH PRESS CUTTING REPORTING THE EVENT

WARNING: POEM TITLED 'WOLF' REFERENCES THE FACTUAL EVENT OF A BABY BORN WITH FACIAL DEFORMITIES, WITH (HYPOTHETICAL) RESPONSES TO THE BABY

WARNING: POEM 'POEM FROM MY FATHER' CONTAINS DETAILED REFERENCES TO A WOMAN'S BODY WASHED UP ON A BEACH; FACTUAL ACCOUNT, WITH PRESS CUTTINGS REPORTING THE EVENT

WARNING: UNTITLED POEM BEGINNING 'WHEN THEY FINALLY BROKE IN ...' CONTAINS REFERENCE TO THE DISCOVERY OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL REMAINS IN A HOUSE. NO APPARENT EVIDENCE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE EVENT WAS FACTUAL. See April 2016 papers under heading Goddard College, where this poem is titled 'The Freezer'.

WARNING: POEM 'ICARUS' REFERENCES A STOWAWAY FROM DELHI FALLING TO HIS DEATH FROM AN AIRCRAFT. WHILE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS PARTICULAR OCCURRENCE IS FACTUAL, SIMILAR EVENTS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PRESS

Material relating to the production of Tony Curtis's Preparations: Poems 1974-79 (initially called 'Signals at Sea'), published by Gomer Press in 1980 (see, for example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Preparations-Poems-1974-79-Tony-Curtis/dp/0850885620), comprising: draft selection of poems for potential inclusion in the collection, the poems bearing manuscript amendments by Tony Curtis and critical observations by poet and novelist Ciarón Carson; draft title, acknowledgements and contents pages of the collection; letter,16 February 1976, from Christopher Talfan Davies of Christopher Davies publishers; and letters to Tony Curtis from poet, critic, teacher and broadcaster Jeremy Hooker, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Bloodaxe Books, offering critical observations on the draft collection. Note on one of the draft title pages in Tony Curtis's hand reads 'rejected by Arts Council readers and later re-worked & published by Gomer [Press] as Preparations'.

For the poet Denise Levertov, referenced at the bottom of the poem titled 'Third Didactic Poem', and for the poem titled 'At Abercanaid with Denise Levertov and Michael Harper', see under heading USA: festivals, inspirations and collaborations and under heading Individual poems (loose papers).

See also April 2016 papers under heading Goddard College.

WARNING: POEM TITLED 'AFTER THE CRASH' CONTAINS REFERENCES TO CANNIBALISM; FACTUAL ACCOUNT (see under heading Individual poems (loose papers) Cautionary 'post-it' note attached to poem.

WARNING: THE POEM 'POEM FROM MY FATHER' CONTAINS DETAILED REFERENCES TO A WOMAN'S BODY WASHED UP ON A BEACH; FACTUAL ACCOUNT (see under heading Individual poems (loose papers) Cautionary 'post-it' note attached to poem.

Material relating to Tony Curtis's first poetry reading visit to the United States in 1972, the trip funded by Curtis's winning the Society of Authors' 1972 Eric Gregory Award, comprising: travel/flight details and printed tourist brochures; poetry by Tony Curtis inspired by his visit, with manuscript amendments by Curtis; contact details relating to possible poetry reading opportunities sent to Tony Curtis by poet Leon Spiro; newspaper cutting from the Ross Valley Reporter, based in San Anselmo, California; printed programme of the Poetry Center, New York; letters to Tony Curtis in response to his requests regarding possible poetry reading opportunities and venues; press cuttings relating to Tony Curtis's visit to the United States; and rough manuscript list of poems (abbreviated titles) in Tony Curtis's hand, with ticks alongside, under the heading 'Gregory Award'.

Material relating to Tony Curtis's second poetry reading visit to the United States in 1975, comprising: biographical details relating to Tony Curtis; correspondence addressed to Tony Curtis regarding potential poetry reading venues; press cuttings and correspondence relating to Tony Curtis's poetry readings at American schools; material relating to an abortive 'poem cards' scheme involving work by poets including Gillian Clarke, Leslie Norris and Roland Mathias, with related correspondence; rough draft poem addressed to 'R.S.T.' (presumably the Anglo-Welsh poet R. S. Thomas); typescript copy of talk given by Tony Curtis on the American television show Sunday Best, with manuscript amendments by Tony Curtis; and typescript copy of a press article by Tony Curtis titled 'America the Beautiful', with photocopy of the published article.
However, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Best_(American_TV_series)#:~:text=Sunday%20Best%20is%20a%20reality,BET%20on%20October%202%2C%202007.&text=In%20each%20season%2C%20the%20show,undiscovered%20gospel%20talent%20in%20America, Sunday Best is currently described as 'a reality television singing competition series', which appears to bear little resemblance to the programme on which Tony Curtis proposed to present his talk.

Material relating to an Arts Council-sponsored Poetry Exchange Tour to celebrate the American bicentenary 1776-1976, comprising: printed booklet containing details of a tour of Britain by American poets; biographical details relating to Denise Levertov and excerpts from reviews of her work; printed poetry by Denise Levertov, with source information added in Tony Curtis's hand; material relating to a night of poetry reading and talks by American poets Denise Levertov, Michael S. Harper and Galway Kinnell at the Polytechnic of Wales, Barry; correspondence addressed to Tony Curtis from Denise Levertov and one other relating to Levertov's visit to Wales; rough draft of a poem by Tony Curtis titled 'At Abercanaid with Denise Levertov and Michael S. Harper', inspired by Levertov and Harper's visit to Wales; press cutting relating to Levertov, Harper and Kinnell's visit to Wales; and letters addressed from Ireland to Tony Curtis from American poet and writer Tess Gallagher, enclosing several of her poems.

Material relating to the 1984 Wales/USA Print and Poem Project, a collaborative exhibition between American artists/printmakers and Welsh poets, of which Tony Curtis was co-director and as part of which he would participate in poetry readings and talks at Western Illinois University and other venues. The material comprises: correspondence from Western Illinois University, the then Welsh Arts Council, the British Council and a letter, 25 October 1984, to Curtis from sculptor, artist and printmaker Jonah Jones; details of events taking place at Western Illinois University, including poetry readings by Tony Curtis and others and a lecture by Curtis titled 'Dylan - Roots and Heirs'; draft and fair-copy poetry by Tony Curtis; biographical details relating to the exhibiting Welsh poets, together with examples of their work; press cuttings relating to the exhibition; and a booklet (kept in a marked envelope) containing the poem 'Castell y Bere' by Welsh poet and writer Bobi Jones rendered into decorative print by Jonah Jones, together with details of Welsh and American poets and artists, translations of some of the works of the Welsh poets submitted to the exhibition and (inserted) photographic prints of the poem 'Castell y Bere', (?) possibly for display via an overhead projector. For a comparable event which took place ten years later, in 1994, see January 2014 papers under heading Poems & Prints: A celebration of word and image.

Material relating to the America '85 Festival of American arts and entertainment to be held 6-30 May 1985.

Material relating to or inspired by visits by Tony Curtis to the United States and Canada, much of which is unspecific as regards date and purpose/event. The contents include: rough manuscript and typescript copies of a journal written by Curtis while visiting Canada in April 1981 as part of The Welsh Academy/Canada Council Writers Exchange Scheme; poems by Curtis inspired by a visit to the United States of America's Midwest in 1989 and to South Dakota and California; draft and fair-copy versions of prose piece titled 'Out of the Wreck: Influences from Contemporary American Poetry'; draft poetry by Curtis, with manuscript amendments; report by Tony Curtis on the Rotary International Group Study Exchange Scheme from District 115 South Wales to District 56 1, South Dakota, 1978; rough manuscript list of poems headed 'Greenwich Festival', the poems possibly to be read at the festival; press cutting relating to a poetry reading event by Curtis; and printed map showing a section of the north-eastern coast of the United States and part of south-eastern Canada . Items previously grouped together by Curtis are kept in marked envelopes.
Further copies of the poems are also included under heading Individual poems (loose papers).
For printed programme of the 6th International Literature of Region and Nation Conference held at the University of New Brunswick, Canada, August 1996, see under heading Festivals and conferences within this archive.

See also January 2014 papers under heading Poems & Prints: A celebration of word and image and June 2021 papers under heading Miscellanea by/relating to Tony Curtis.