A Festival of Birds - by James McGrath Paperback

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A Festival of Birds is a flock of poems for lovers and wanderers. McGrath's poems reveal his encounters with the unique and universal cultures of Japan and Okinawa, where he lived for twelve years. This is poetry for those of us who have strayed into a traditional culture to find ourselves in love and dancing in the shadows and light discovering who we are.

Review Quotes

"James McGrath's gift of invoking longing in a few lines testifies to his absorption in the aesthetics of the traditional cultures of the Far East. During years of residence, he not only studied the people, tea ceremony, flower arranging and calligraphy, he merged with them. With utmost simplicity, these poems transport us into love. The ache of memory takes wing, entering our heart through holes pierced by joy and loss. A Festival of Birds allows us to re-experience the beauty we hold most dear."

--Cynthia West, author of six collections of poetry, most recently, In the Center of the Field and Clear Drop

"For decades, poet and artist James McGrath has invited us to embrace the world, to experience the extraordinary and ethereal in everyday encounters. There is this and more in his new volume--a deep quietude, refined intensity and depth of simplicity. With fleeting birdsong or the scent of cherry blossoms coming through an open window, James asks us to come home to ourselves, to know joy and intimacy with nature and the beloved, and to be present with shadows and loss."

--Lonnie Howard, poet, avid birder active in birding community and member of Sangre de Cristo Audubon, Biodynamic Craniosacral student, Director of Santa Fe School of Massage

"As James McGrath continues to dance toward the darkness and the light, I am comforted that such a poet exists, whose words remind me of the beauty of life, complete with longing. James' poems are the beauty of life, inspiring me with wonder and unquestioning faith that James exists in his garden of birds, his orchards of friendship-flowers."

--Catherine Ferguson, poet, artist, bird-watcher, illustrator of The Sound a Raven Makes and author of the poetry collections I Thought You Would Be Shelter and I, Village