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In this second edition of Tea Ceremonies for Winter (Cool Grove Press, 2018) now also titled Chanoyu for Winter/Chanoyu para el invierno Rolando Pérez translates the poems originally written in English into Spanish, inviting Spanish-speaking readers to partake in these ceremonies. The term "translation" is used loosely here, for these are less translations than complementary versions of one another. Moreover, the poems here are inspired by haikus, tankas, and chōkas, without being constrained by them.
Chanoyu for Winter/Chanoyu para el invierno is the first volume of the quartet Chanoyu for the Seasons / Chanoyu para las estaciones. In this sense, the work participates in a larger multiplicity-a dialogue not only between languages but also between temporalities, perspectives, and ways of being.
In Chanoyu for Winter / Chanoyu Para El Invierno, Rolando Pérez shapes language in the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony. Between English and Spanish, between winter light and memory's warmth,
these poems honor the fragile beauty of what almost goes unnoticed-a woman ironing a white sheet, snow over grey waters, the hush after a quarrel. Rooted in Zen and the devotion to imperfection, Pérez reminds us that meaning is not declared but steeped, patiently, in the small rituals of daily life. To read this book is to sit quietly with a warm cup in hand, aware of how the simplest moments sustain us.
-Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of Homeland of My Body
In his latest books Rolando Pérez demonstrates once again his gift for blending intellectual rigor with lyrical grace. What makes this volume, Chanoyu for Winter, especially distinctive is its bilingual artistry: poems conceived in English are adapted by the author into Spanish, creating a dialogue across languages that enriches their meaning. Like the ritual of preparing tea, each piece unfolds with balance and poise, leaving the reader gratified and enlightened.
Gustavo Pérez Firmat
Author of Pulitzer Prize nominated Next Year in Cuba
Chanoyu for Winter/Chanoyu para el invierno is the first volume of the quartet Chanoyu for the Seasons / Chanoyu para las estaciones. In this sense, the work participates in a larger multiplicity-a dialogue not only between languages but also between temporalities, perspectives, and ways of being.
In Chanoyu for Winter / Chanoyu Para El Invierno, Rolando Pérez shapes language in the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony. Between English and Spanish, between winter light and memory's warmth,
these poems honor the fragile beauty of what almost goes unnoticed-a woman ironing a white sheet, snow over grey waters, the hush after a quarrel. Rooted in Zen and the devotion to imperfection, Pérez reminds us that meaning is not declared but steeped, patiently, in the small rituals of daily life. To read this book is to sit quietly with a warm cup in hand, aware of how the simplest moments sustain us.
-Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of Homeland of My Body
In his latest books Rolando Pérez demonstrates once again his gift for blending intellectual rigor with lyrical grace. What makes this volume, Chanoyu for Winter, especially distinctive is its bilingual artistry: poems conceived in English are adapted by the author into Spanish, creating a dialogue across languages that enriches their meaning. Like the ritual of preparing tea, each piece unfolds with balance and poise, leaving the reader gratified and enlightened.
Gustavo Pérez Firmat
Author of Pulitzer Prize nominated Next Year in Cuba