When I first began THE CONUNDRUMS QUOTATION PROJECT, it was inspired by my long-term fascination with curating quotes from the various books I read across genres. Some quotes are mine, annotations on books I’ve read, including the Bible. Writers, especially poets, look to write the perfect phrase or find the best word to describe that “thing.” When we find something noteworthy, we might jot it in a notebook, write it on an index card, or on the back of an envelope. Years ago, I read, “Truly Your Forgiveness I Implore,” a poem by the Romanian poet Nina Cassian, and a phrase from it, “the black blood of poetry,” profoundly struck me. One day, I knew that phrase would be the title of a collection of poetry. It took more than two decades, but I wrote that book with that title.

The Black Blood of Poetry is available on Amazon.