The Journey of My First Poetry Book
It is a memory I may never forget. It was a cold, winter night and the smell of Jamaican jerk chicken filled the house. The light above the stove glowed orange, like the warmest scenes in a Woody Allen film. The true warmth came from my mother, standing in the kitchen, reaching for seasonings and ingredients, the best cook, never needing a cookbook.
I cannot remember what inspired this poem, but poems fell into my lap back then (and they still do). I would grab a pen before it could get away, and I would try to understand what it (or I) was trying to say. My poems were always about deep issues, packaged in simple words and racing imagery. My poems were always simple, yet profound in the meanings one could overlay.
My first performance of Stagnation is Death, a poem which appears in this upcoming book, was on that cold, winter night standing on a wooden chair to an audience of one — my late mother.
After a year of hard work, quiet reflection, and occasional bursts of fervent inspiration, I am thrilled to share my first poetry book, POETRY IN EDEN, is complete. This collection has been a long time in the making, with some poems dating back over 15 years. It feels surreal to see these early words and emotions from my younger self now bound together with newer work, capturing a wide range of experiences, growth, and perspectives.
Writing poetry has always been a personal outlet and my natural form of writing—a way to explore feelings, observe the world around me, and reflect it back to others. POETRY IN EDEN takes readers on a journey through life. It offers a nuanced perspective on our shared experiences. It is a collection of poetry and prose about belonging. The book is divided into four chapters, with each chapter serving a different purpose, offering a different element, and providing healing through a unique form of alchemy.
My goal is not to tell my own story, but to inspire others through the power of words, reminding readers that all emotions, both delicate and intense, are part of the shared human experience.
While this is my first book, it certainly will not be my last (as you must know). The process has ignited a deeper commitment to continue writing and sharing work that can uplift, reflect, and spark thought. I hope my journey encourages others to pursue their passions, no matter what, and to keep walking towards whatever ignites the fire in their heart.
My Mission As An Author
My poetic work appears in various publications already, including Bauhaus Weimar Lucia Magazine and Spill Stories Anthology. My path as a Northeast American Ivy League graduate into Investment Banker into Big Tech marketing expert into writer is unique, with many pivots (cue the dramatic music and feelings of highs and lows) and many unbelievable moments. The past decade has even brought me full circle around the world (literally) from New York to San Francisco, from San Francisco to Singapore, from Singapore to Berlin, from Berlin to Lisboa.
After (unintentionally) seeing the world, my mission as an author at this phase in my life is clear as my understanding of human behaviour in complex systems has proven unique. Alas, my mission is to uncover the universal human search for meaning through philosophy and poetry, while raising awareness about healing generational trauma via geopolitical and historical research.
I used to be tied to how I might reach the masses — today, I am simply dedicated to the craft and open to how success as an author may find me. My definition of author success is still the amount of people I can reach — and I am still committed to my historical fantasy series, but in the fast-moving age of social media, the journey to the goal may look different than I ever imagined, and I am fine with that!
Thank you for the support. Thank you for getting ready to hold my book in your hands. It means the world to me. It was faith and hope which made this dream come true, and it is faith and hope which will keep me going. Book 2 of POETRY IN EDEN is already in the works!
Until then, stay blessed dear ones. A world of poetry awaits you.