I have some exciting news to share: My new collection of poems will be published on March 1st, 2015! It’s my fourth book published, my third book of poems and my first book in English. I am so thrilled and excited about this project. I’m publishing with Rosemi Mederos and her Anterior Books. It’s a small publishing company based in Miami and it’s just perfect for me.
Rosemi is an incredible editor and a wonderful person. It is a pleasure working with her. I will be involved in every step of the way and I really look forward to it.
My way back to poetry has taken its time. After I officially stopped writing in 2008, I devoted most of my time to yoga and meditation but after a few years I noticed that lines of poetry started to arrive. I wrote them down and the pile grew. Poetry increasingly became an important part of my spiritual practice (aka life!). Some of you have seen my poems either here or on Facebook.
I am also reading a lot of poetry, mostly Zen and Sufi poets. I recently read some Chinese poetry, among others Li Po (or Li Bai). All of a sudden I was reminded of a poem from my school days, in our literature book. I was sure that it must have been by Li Po when I saw his name after more than 30 years, memory yet faint.
I then remembered how I used to read that poem every day and be completely swept away by its beauty. But I couldn’t remember which poem it was. Then it slowly came back to me. First of all the atmosphere and then I remembered that it was about a mountain. From there I finally found the poem that caused me to become a poet and maybe even started me on my whole spiritual journey.
The sense of homecoming when I found the poem again is indescribable. I share it here with you. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the name of the translator and, of course, in my schoolbook it was printed in Swedish):
You ask me why I dwell in the green mountain;
I smile and make no reply for my heart is free of care.
As the peach-blossom flows down stream and is gone into the unknown,
I have a world apart that is not among men.
That is where I started my journey and now I am back and everything makes perfect sense. Life is profoundly beautiful.
I will keep you posted as we go along. I’m thrilled to share this with you! Much love and happiness to all.
Rosemi is an incredible editor and a wonderful person. It is a pleasure working with her. I will be involved in every step of the way and I really look forward to it.
My way back to poetry has taken its time. After I officially stopped writing in 2008, I devoted most of my time to yoga and meditation but after a few years I noticed that lines of poetry started to arrive. I wrote them down and the pile grew. Poetry increasingly became an important part of my spiritual practice (aka life!). Some of you have seen my poems either here or on Facebook.
I am also reading a lot of poetry, mostly Zen and Sufi poets. I recently read some Chinese poetry, among others Li Po (or Li Bai). All of a sudden I was reminded of a poem from my school days, in our literature book. I was sure that it must have been by Li Po when I saw his name after more than 30 years, memory yet faint.
I then remembered how I used to read that poem every day and be completely swept away by its beauty. But I couldn’t remember which poem it was. Then it slowly came back to me. First of all the atmosphere and then I remembered that it was about a mountain. From there I finally found the poem that caused me to become a poet and maybe even started me on my whole spiritual journey.
The sense of homecoming when I found the poem again is indescribable. I share it here with you. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the name of the translator and, of course, in my schoolbook it was printed in Swedish):
You ask me why I dwell in the green mountain;
I smile and make no reply for my heart is free of care.
As the peach-blossom flows down stream and is gone into the unknown,
I have a world apart that is not among men.
That is where I started my journey and now I am back and everything makes perfect sense. Life is profoundly beautiful.
I will keep you posted as we go along. I’m thrilled to share this with you! Much love and happiness to all.
Not peach blossoms but close enough...
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