It is said of the poetry of Andrew Schelling that he is “locating language in watersheds and continental ridges, in rocks and plants. A poet of ancient texts and teachings, Schelling tracks the history of language and reads the world.” Not a moment too soon, either, as we are in a time of whole systems transition some are calling the “polycrisis” and we need as many poets practicing the role of person who “notices what they notice” in the words of Allen Ginsberg.
Sanskrit translations, a deep bioregional sense of place and homages to dead (mostly) poet friends makes his new book a compelling distillation of subjects he’s been tracking for over 40 years. Author of “Tracks Along The Left Coast: Jaime D’Angulo & Pacific Coast Culture” and “From the Arapaho Songbook” and many other titles, Andrew Schelling lives in the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado, and teaches poetry and Sanskrit at Naropa University. The new book is Forests, Temples and Glacial Rivers, published by Empty Bowl and we talked to him via Zoom.
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Fantastic. Wisdom squared times poetry.
From the last poem Schelling reads “Trees Have Life” – if you pay close attention – this is not an idea to study – at night go to the winter hills – lifeforce of plants draws inward for the season – we stand without words – a forest of words – the pines move in a great council around us – wonderful interview.