Along These Roads We Travel: Poems

By Joann Rita Vega

Along These Roads We Travel, and each one of us walks on a different path towards learning, suffering, and happiness. . . These roads unite and confound themselves as we advance through life. Our job as a people is to enjoy and assist those, who in one form or another, have entered our road, without losing sight of our own and destination.
This book is a multicultural and intimate overview of humanity’s intrinsically existential struggles and expectations today, as well as of our responsibilities toward each other and our planet. These words are inner reflections that include a marked observation of the inequalities and suffering present on this level of life manifestation, and for which we must claim responsibility. Through inner contemplation of our happy moments and devotion to a higher energy, we are able to find the interconnection that Carl Jung referred to as Synchronicity, which, hopefully, will bring us to the discovery of our true Identities and possibilities as human race – capable for caring for and accepting each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663209146

Joann Rita Vega

Joann Rita Vega was born in Cuba. She’s an educator and counselor as well as a Life Coach. Being presently retired from the Public Educational System, allows her to dedicate more time to the writing of poetry as well as photography. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in sociology, psychology, and education at Florida International University and her Master’s degree in applied psychology and school counseling at Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Vega extensively travels through the Caribbean as well as other parts of the world, and these travels have inspired her to write three previous poetry books. Her work has also been published in literary magazines here and abroad. She frequently travels to India, where she spends many days of her life. Always carrying her pen, photograph camera, and her Mala rosary with her. For many years she worked in the prison system as a rehabilitation counselor, giving herself wholeheartedly to the creation of better quality of life for those less fortunate. She was Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Studies and founder and president of Women United for Equality and Peace. From the early years of her life, Ms. Vega has been a social justice and women’s rights activist.

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Copyright © 2021 Joann Rita Vega.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-0905-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0914-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020917611

iUniverse rev. date: 09/07/2021

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CONTENTS

To a Lost Poem

To the Puerto Rican Man Who Read My Book

Revelación

The Calypsonian

War

Your Eyes

Abril de 1984

Return

Woman in the City

A Story from My People

The Bell

Serenidad

A Strange Traveler I Am

Walking by the Ganges

Viaje a la Tierra Lejana

Timeless

Universal Thunder

Ti Gason

Shiva!

The Longest Night

Street Man

A Transcending Morning by Toe River

The City Sleeps

She Was by the River

Prisionera

Prefiero

Por Esta Calle

Of Marble Was My Dream

Nicolás

Namaste

Lotus

Mr. Big Man, Listen to Us!

Mother

My Lotus

Lluvia Sobre Port-au-Prince

La Ciudad Duerme

José Pérez

Island

I Propose

El Viaje

El Emigrante

Caribbean Plea

Candomblé

Baptism

And I Saw His Figure

The Song of My Soul

Razones

Momentum

Mackandal

Dear Old New Friend

Behind These Walls

El Tocador de Calipso

Gathering

My Soul. My Self.

Serenity

Surrender

DEDICATION

For the light in all of us. For my guru. For my teacher at the foothills of the Himalayas. For my daughter and granddaughter, Ingrid and Lia. For John.

To my mother and father, whose memory guides me.

INTRODUCTION

In these poems by Joann Rita Vega, several elements blend neatly together: light and shadow; men and women; thought and action; and above all, as the very form suggests, a multicultural examination. The words are those of one who has witnessed the silent anguish of others.

The themes are many, but Ms. Vega’s concern with love and war; happiness and unhappiness; transcendence of human ego; as well as a natural acceptance and welcoming of all cultures make these poems.

Not unnaturally, one wishes to empathize with the unfailing and unflagging optimism that prevails in these poems. Yet, this work is not a plea for a better world or a mere denunciation of our own. The important significance which gives life to any poem is not what it says—our politicians and priests do that for us—but how it is said. Here is the true success with this volume of verses: Ms. Vega has differing tones and a specific voice that addresses with directness each differing experience.

A great deal of rhythm is in the build-up of lines, in the accumulated meaning of words, as they

Reviews for Along These Roads We Travel

[Raymond Delpapa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author very successfully combines her poetry with her photography. This is the first time I have seen a poetry book with photos that compliment her words.
Joann Vega presents several different themes, spirituality, the human struggle for justice, freedom and respect. She also conveys her love for the natural beauty of this planet in both words and pictures.
I think you would ne very pleased with this book.