This is the Serbian poet Nina Zivancevic's most accomplished book of poetry written in English. Having escaped a multitude of multi-layered and multicultural traps as might be expected of any immortal poet, in her latest book of verse she comes back to her origins. The poem 'Phoenix' reflects the poet's personal cycles of life in more ways than one but how many tmes can she emerge from the fire? "The Cure" is simply the poet's dialogue with her own death, having realised that all her negotiations with the possibilities of rebirth were over. A profound and essentially lyrical book which recalls the brave dialogues of the Stoics; "Death is nothing and I am not afraid of it."
Peer Reviews:
"Everything she learned about poetry - she learned from me " Allen Ginsberg, three months before his death.
"Brilliant." "Somewhat like Picasso."Genevieve Huttin, poet, philosopher, radio commentator.
"Letters to Myself give life that supreme sense of urgency and change, and time, and meaning. I love this new collection." Johny Brown, Band of Holy Joy, sound sculpture, poet, playwright.
"Often irreverent, prophetic but always abundantly generous, Nina Zivancevic's Letters are addressed to the self and to the world at large. An essential European poet for our times."James Byrne, editor ofThe Wolf Magazine poet, teacher.
"Throwaways no one would throw away, conversation no one normally hears, confessions of a woman more sinned against than sinning, her poems revel in their simplicity and sophistication. Behind the comic mask, a lot goes on. Witness the effortless grand canvas of 'Berlin' to see how a bohemienne writes on the move, touching the European pulse.Niall Mc Devitt-International Times, Irish poet."