Poetry has always been a critical element of civilization, speaking to the great themes of our lives: love, loss, the modern terrors of a post-9/11 world, the scourge of war and a sustained hope for peace. Poetry “puts us in touch with ourselves,” by its nature addressing every human emotion and universal concept as we interpret, personalize and process.

This collection is universal in appeal, from the general to the personal perspective, our place in a marginalized society and in the grand scheme of things, and our ongoing dialog with history from the perspective of our own experiences. The poem is literally the sound of humanity, the voice of yearning and hope, restoring us to an increasingly alienating world, a private corner of the universe where we find comfort and expression. In the words of “the quintessential woman poet of the North,” Xuan Quynh:

“It’s the season in which nothing can hide.
The whole world is dressed in light.
The sea aqua, the white sails full.
And bitterness turns into poetry.” (Xuan Quynh, “Summer”)

In their natural context, these poems are complex, universally appealing. Thoughtfully assembled, the poets speak the language of the world, past and present in an anthology that begs for a permanent place on a desk or bedside table, an island of personal exploration that expands the souls and heals the heart.

“And so
it has taken me
all of sixty years
to understand
that water is the finest drink,
and bread the most delicious food,
and that art is worthless
unless it plants
a measure of splendor in people’s hearts.” (Taha Muhammad Ali)