Overview

77 Poems From a Philadelphia Garden is a collection of poems that author Aron Goldschneider composed over the course of seven solitary yet joyful years tending to a cherished, historic garden. Lovingly and richly illustrated by his daughter Bronwyn Goldschneider, the book was written with the belief that gardening and contemplation, and therefore gardening and poetry, go hand in hand-those who live in gardening experience a kind of poetry in their devotion. Alongside the central wellsprings of poetry-love, death, nature-the work explores the gardener's dilemma: the folly in the very notion of ""my garden"" amid impermanence and forces beyond control. These lived contradictions are the poet's constant companions, like the catbirds who return each year to work alongside him, offering beauty and amusement, yet vying for fruit. The poems' accessible, at times playful language reflects the shared experience of gardeners and those who love gardens, whether or not they are well-versed in poetry. Their brevity and spareness no doubt grow out of the author's lifelong love for and study of the Chinese language. Indeed, a number of the poems are translated into Chinese or include Chinese words. Several are as short as koans. Readers have described them as ""poems in English with Daoist colors,"" expressing ""quiet wonder, humor, and tenderness.""

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Reviews

""Poems in English with Daoist colors."" ""A book of quiet wonder, humor, and tenderness."" ""A charming father-daughter collaboration.""

Author Information

Aron Goldschneider is a writer, editor, and attorney who in addition to publishing numerous articles in legal journals and reference works co-created the bestselling book, The Secret Language of Birthdays, which has been translated into more than a dozen languages and remains in print after 30 years. A longtime songwriter, Aron's song Balloons from his children's album On Trinity Street has brought joy to millions of children worldwide. 77 Poems From a Philadelphia Garden is his first book of poetry.Aron plays fingerstyle guitar, flute, and saxophone and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese. An honors graduate of New York University and Temple University School of Law, he has worked as a housepainter, street busker, NYC bike messenger, woodwind repairman, filmmaker, crossword puzzle constructor, ESL teacher, and everything in between. He lives with his wife Takiko and hound dog Wally in Philadelphia's Mount Airy neighborhood. Bronwyn Goldschneider is a young New York fashion designer who earned a BFA from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a concentration in eveningwear. 77 Poems From a Philadelphia Garden is her first book as an illustrator. Bronwyn pursues visual art and garment construction in her spare time, and lives with her tortoiseshell cat Hoji in Astoria, Queens.

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