Born in his homeland of Hungary, a few years after the end of the second world war, Csaba Méra (Woodenhorseboy), was raised by a nationally respected physician father and a talented mother, who left her successful acting and singing career to care for the family. At age two years, Csaba almost died of a disease yet unidentified at the time, later known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. At age seven, he escaped with his mother and younger brother, fleeing to Austria in the middle of the night, as the Soviets crushed the 1956 Hungarian revolution. His father had left earlier to prepare for what was to come. The family was reunited in Austria and were accepted on the British refugee quota in early 1957.
Elementary school and grammar school in GreatBorn in his homeland of Hungary, a few years after the end of the second world war, Csaba Méra (Woodenhorseboy), was raised by a nationally respected physician father and a talented mother, who left her successful acting and singing career to care for the family. At age two years, Csaba almost died of a disease yet unidentified at the time, later known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. At age seven, he escaped with his mother and younger brother, fleeing to Austria in the middle of the night, as the Soviets crushed the 1956 Hungarian revolution. His father had left earlier to prepare for what was to come. The family was reunited in Austria and were accepted on the British refugee quota in early 1957.
Elementary school and grammar school in Great Britain, he struggled with the new language, new customs and trying to be accepted. High school in Canada and college in the US led Csaba to medical school to fulfill his dream of following in his father’s footsteps to become a doctor.
First two marriages, raising two sons from each, and working as a physician, presented the challenges and nuances of life from many different perspectives. Csaba has now been happily married for over fifteen years to a wonderful Chinese lady, an amazing human being, who fills his heart with her unconditional love, life energy and kindness.
These poems are Csaba’s reflections on the complexities of many events, feelings, and dreams over the decades of his life. Drawn from his experiences as a refugee, foreigner, physician, husband, father, teacher, and a humble student of life, Csaba presents his observations on an expansive, complex emotional journey.
Along the way, he has referred to himself as The Mad Hungarian. Mad about life and all its messy complications. Mad about all the goodness, caring and love he has encountered along the way. And mad about trying to understand and empathize with the struggles and losses that so many people experience in their lives on our pale blue dot.
Hoping these poems elicit a smile, an occasional chuckle, a few tear drops, and some sincere considerations about the many nuances of life, love, loss, and hope. ...more