Sanctuary

by Karen Bashkirew

For me, away is an antidote for the poisons of violence and war, medicine against the madness of too-much. Being away, alone, in wild places, in the stillness of an empty church, in the sanctuary of my own quiet room with a book or pen and paper is balm for a spirit rubbed raw by noise, crowds, traffic, the frantic pace of modern life.

But, I wonder, is there really an away? Because sometimes, even when I climb to a remote mountain ridge, I can still hear the echo of far-off explosions and people screaming. And I know, too, that every away is also toward….

The poems in this collection had their beginnings in quiet places. Many take their inspiration from nature, from places of stillness, sanctuary, and solitude. All have carried me away and toward at the same time.

Karen Bashkirew

36 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Karen Bashkirew lives in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared in various journals including Atlanta Review, Calyx: A Journal of Art and Literature By Women, Passager, Phoebe, and Schuylkill Valley Journal of the Arts. She received Byline Magazine's 2005 Poetry Award. Her poem, “Sounds,” set to music by Suzzy Roche, is featured on the CD, Zero Church. She is a retired educator, massage therapist, and the mother of a grown son.