Searching in Circles

The distinguished poet Rose Anna Higashi has gifted us with a thoughtful, passionate collection of insightful and lyrical poems covering a wide range of literary aesthetics, from haiku to free-flowing verse, in her most recent collection, Searching in Circles. Each poem is created with the delicacy of a word painter. In a variety of poetic styles and historic perspectives, Rose Anna has chosen a selection of personages from the past, including Hildegard von Bingen, Claude Monet, and Emily Dickinson, among others, projecting them into a contemporary poetic vision. There is a delight in reading and rereading individual poems, stirring the imagination with delicate beauty and surprise.

-Walter Soellner, Professor of Art History and author, Forget Me Not, A Tale of Two Families

Searching in Circles by Rose Anna Higashi takes readers on a cyclical journey through a cavalcade of events, introducing us to people, places, and situations from the Ozarks to wildfires in Big Sur seen through the eyes of Elenor of Aquitaine. Like Dorothy Wordsworth, Higashi's observations nudge readers to reconsider the obvious, question assumptions as in "Planning a Spring Reunion," heed how the past can haunt us in the present as portrayed in "Betrayal," and experience her blend of contemporary and Biblical imagery when she dramatizes Patmos in "Costa Comes Home." Higashi redefines the nature of a unified collection of verse, leading us though richly textured landscapes and diverse historical and cultural allusions, coming full circle in "Back at the Beginning" where she assumes the role of an ancestor - the subject of chapter one, "The Elders." A masterpiece! Searching in Circles compels us to reread poems for maximum satisfaction!

-Sterling Warner, Professor of English, Poet Laureate and author, twelve volumes of poetry

Searching in Circles by Rose Anna Higashi is a lyrical collection of poetry that explores the cyclical nature of life through the lens of art, history and human experience. With poems that echo the rhythms of birth, growth, loss and renewal, Higashi weaves literary allusions and ekphrastic imagery into verses that speak to readers of all ages and reflect her personal teaching style in the classroom. Students of art and literature will find it a treasure trove of inspiration and insight, while casual readers will be drawn to its emotional honesty and graceful rhythm. Poems such as "Elizabeth Barret Browning in Florence" celebrate women writers and inspire the reader. "Circling the World with Haiku" offers impressive images from all over the world. This compilation is both a celebration and a meditation - an invitation to reflect on the patterns that shape our lives and the beauty that emerges when we pause to search within the circle, a space to reflect, to feel, and to return - again and again.

-Roohi Vora, Associate English Instructor, San Jose State University, Former Director, SJAWP