Crystal Fire. Poems of Joy & Wisdom
ISBN 978-1-945938-57-3 (color hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-945938-58-0 (color paperback)
ISBN 978-1-945938-59-7 (eBook)
https://moonrisepress.com/crystal-fire-anthology.html
It has been a real pleasure and a joy to gather poems, edit the anthology, and organize events to promote this collection of positive poetry in our chaotic times. Illustrated with paintings by Ambika Talwar, the “Crystal Fire” anthology gathers poems of joy and wisdom by 12 poets, 8 women and 4 men: Elżbieta Czajkowska, Joe DeCenzo, Mary Elliott, Jeff Graham, Marlene Hitt, Frederick Livingston, Alice Pero, Allegra Silberstein, Jane Stuart, Ambika Talwar, Bory Thach, and Maja Trochimczyk.
The poets span all ages and diverse life experiences. They include émigrés from Poland, Cambodia, and India, and those born in the U.S. College professors join community poets. Native speakers appear alongside those for whom English is the second, or even the third language. The ”joy and wisdom” they write about are also different, as each poet follows their own path and gathers unique reflections to share with their readers. The spectacular cover art and paintings to start each section are by poet Ambika Talwar, a talented painter and poet.
In the Preface, I described the inspiration and philosophy of the book as follows:
"The title of this anthology comes from my poem “The Year of Crystal Fire” written at the end of a very long and convoluted love story that has a lot to do with the ancient Chinese legends of nine-tailed foxes. Initially, the title of this anthology was to be The Year of Crystal Fire, just like the poem, but why limit ourselves to just one year? The phrase of “Crystal Fire” may be seen as the symbol of all humanity, with each person born from the union of man and woman, the male and female DNA strands interlocking in ever new patterns to create human beings. In this phrase, "Crystal" stands for the feminine and “Fire” for the masculine. “Crystal” is peaceful, somewhat static, but well-constructed, stable, and growing slowly into perfection. It is the cosmos of order and being. Remember, only women give birth (though some want to construct artificial wombs and detach humanity from its roots). In contrast, "Fire" is dynamic, sometimes intensely dramatic, always changing, always transforming, constantly in the state of flux. It is the energy of change and growth. It is also destructive, demolishing solid structures of the past to make room for the new. “Fire” means destruction and becoming. It is pure chaos."
"The Universe arises from the dance of these twin forces, like yin and yang, but neither is pure darkness, negative and “evil” and neither is pure light, positive, and “good.” Instead, they are the ageless vortex of cosmic unity and chaos, of creation and destruction. There is no value assigned to this polarity, for such labels are limiting and deceptive. Both aspects are essential, each cannot exist without its twin. Both are good AND evil, both are positive AND negative. ”Good and positive” when coupled with the other. “Evil and negative” when alone. These are the polar opposites of stagnation and decline—or constant movement and the total destruction of all life. The feminine elements of "earth" and "water" endlessly dance with the masculine elements of “air” and “fire.” Do you agree with me?"
My poems are listed and a sample poem is copied below.
Maja Trochimczyk ≈ 127
1. The Year of Crystal Fire ≈ 128
2. A Black Velvet Butterfly ≈ 129
3. Repeat After Me ≈ 130
4. The Infinity Room ≈ 132
5. Pelicans ≈ 134
6. Liquid Opal ≈ 135
7. The School of Birds ≈ 136
8. Alchemy in the Hills ≈ 137
9. The Stillness of Trees ≈ 138
10. Imagine a Star… ≈ 139
11. Arbor Cosmica ≈ 140
12. Like Grapes on a Vine ≈ 142
13. A Starchild’s Lesson ≈ 143
14. Today Is for Us ≈ 144
The Year of Crystal Fire
Soft patter of pink rose petals
falling onto the floor. The scent of French Perfume
in the air. The heartbeat stops. The world ceases its rotations.
I see the light in your eyes shining
through the slit in your motorcycle helmet,
as you pass me on the street. In a millisecond
of recognition you take me in—whole,
serene in turquoise and aqua—then, you look away
far into the past we shared so shamelessly,
beyond measure—
the year of passion
the year of dogs that brought us together
the year of longing
the year of dolphins dancing on salty waves
the year of absence
the year of waiting in darkness
the year of tiger lilies
the year of nine-tailed foxes—
smooth with seduction and delight
Yes, I liked that year the most—
as we grew into our demonic, daimonic selves,
created new galaxies, parallel universes
out of our other-worldly love.
Timelines shift.
The cosmic windows
keep opening and closing.
Soft patter of pink rose petals
on the flying carpet takes me into
the year of passion
the year of tiger lilies
the year of diamond kites
soaring above hilltops
the year of stardust
the year of crystal fire
The other poems are listed, along with a copy of the preface on Moonrise Press blog.
https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/09/moonrise-press-publishes-crystal-fire.html
More poems from the anthology are featured in a post about the exhibition:
https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/09/moonrise-press-and-scenic-drive-gallery.html
Poems from the Crystal Fire anthology and from the Bright Skies collection were presented at two readings at Scenic Drive Gallery in Monrovia, California. The readings were to mark the opening on October 16, 2022 and closing on November 20, 2022 of an exhibit of Ambika Talwar's paintings from Crystal Fire and my photographs from Bright Skies. The exhibition, entitled "Sky Garden" and curated by Susan Dobay, presented just 12 paintings and 12 photographs, but gave rise to a series of events, including two poetry readings from the books. The exhibition was also visited by singer, guitarist and song-writer Piotr Kajetan Matczuk of Poland, who gave there a mini-concert.
https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/09/moonrise-press-and-scenic-drive-gallery.html
https://moonrisepress.blogspot.com/2022/11/sky-garden-exhibition-closing-on.html
Poet Bory Thach, included in the anthology and participating in the readings, shared the following comment about the book and readings: "I really appreciate everything that you do for the arts, especially how you strive to be fair and include everyone through well-deserved recognition. It's great to be surrounded by such positive poets with a wide variety of perspectives and insights that can be shown through their poetry. Being a writer I always try to learn something from every artist that I meet. The best part about our group is that I get to read amazing works by different authors, experience their views as well as fresh images and new ways of looking at the world. As a result, I have the privilege of gaining valuable knowledge and wisdom. All because I encountered so many poetic pieces as your editor. I'm just grateful to be able to take away at least one thing every time I open a book. It is like a step closer to enlightenment!"
