Songbirds of the Nine Rivers

A new book of poetry from Joseph Zaccardi, poet laureate of Marin County, (2013-2015).

In his afterword to SONGBIRDS OF THE NINE RIVERS, Joseph Zaccardi recounts how, during his time as a corpsman in the Vietnam War, he found refuge in a volume of ancient Chinese and Vietnamese poetry. This study, now lifelong, has borne fruit in this present volume. At once a scholarly work, an homage, and a striking volume of new poems of the Tang dynasty of China and the L?dynasty of Vietnam--the ancients at his shoulder--these poems, not translations, not "versions," provide readers with a multifaceted lens, forward, backward, yet always present--always, even in grief, exultant.

"Historical, philosophical, and alchemical these poems reenact the cosmos of the classical poet-ancestors of China and Vietnam through the awakened mind of an American poet and luminary. Joseph Zaccardi's poetry enlarges human empathy and connects separated worlds. Listen to these songs! Every note is clear, fresh, and alive."--Jie Tian, author of Native Songs and Migration Songs

Poetry.