Many poems I have included in my books have been translations. Neither music nor the visual arts have this avenue to the future or other cultures. Could it be that through the skills of translators poetry is a universal art form? This search is basis for “Parallel Voices.”

First, I chose a culture far from my own, Ancient China. These poems have been translated many times through many dynasties. Contemporary poetry represents my culture and life. Reading widely in both fields, universal themes started to emerge. War, writing, wonder, death, and nature are several.

The title, “Parallel Voices” carries both design axis and defines two aspects of poetry: it can be read (the visual attribute) or recited (the auditory attribute). The format of the book is very pristine. The pages are unbound and boxed; each page is a triptych. When the viewer opens the box, he sees the Chinese poem on the left panel is parallel to the Western poem on the right. Upon opening the panels, a square lithograph presents the common theme the two poems share. Short selections each poem are woven through the lithograph to emphasize this poetic link.

Dimensions are 21" long X 12" high.