Mountain Breathing: Collected Poems Volume 2

by Richard Gartee

Mountain Breathing is a collection of 66 poems spanning four decades that form a study in the evolution of a poet philosopher with feet made of sand, whose soul may sing OM, but whose eyes notice blond hairs on the back of tan thighs at the beach. Along the way are observations of how we think, feel, and interact with the people who appear in our lives, and with the universe unseen.

Ranging from a mystical experience in a mountain top meadow, to a story of lovers in a French hotel, to pithy observations of mind, ego, heart, and aging, the subjects are diverse. So too, are the variety of styles, rhythms, and voices of individual poems in this collection. Yet the poet's ontology and struggle to achieve some measure of realization comes through with equal clarity in witty four-line poems or rhythm laden, multi-page, narrative pieces.

ebook

Published October 31, 2013

About the author

Richard Gartee is a poet, author and award-winning novelist. Since his first novel, Lancelot’s Grail was published, he has published seven more novels. He is a full-time author. In addition to his eight novels, he has had six collections of poetry published, a biography, seven college textbooks, and a history of the Hippodrome Theatre.
His novel Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the Royal Palm Literary Award. It's sequel Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper won him another Royal Palm Literary Award.
He studied eastern philosophy and meditation for 50 years and is a member of Writers Alliance of Gainesville and Florida Writers Association.
He says:
“I started out in creative writing and then spent 22 years in computer software. During that period of my life I helped design two of the preeminent medical systems and became an expert in the field. Along the way I wrote a college textbook which became a national standard. I left the software company, wrote more textbooks, and became a full time author. Between textbooks I turned my attention back to my creative writing origins. I began working on plays and a novel. For me balancing the left brain – right brain is not that difficult. I enjoy writing and find all of it creative, just in different ways. For me the secret is ‘do the work.’ I make it a point to work on some writing project every day.”