River and Mountain: Collected Poems Of

Ignacio Valdes wrote his first poem in the fifth grade but did not write another until forty-four years later. This collection began as a game between friends, writing poems back and forth to pass the time. Before he knew it, Ignacio had twenty poems, then thirty, eventually amassing eighty. Over five years, the poems grew and developed and became a cohesive picture. The title, River and Mountain, is based on the geography around the beautiful city of Monterrey, Mexico, which is surrounded by mountains with a river running through. Most poems are personal accounts. Some tell stories, while others attempt to touch upon universal ideas. Recurring themes are love, faith, transition, and loss. In Ignacio's case, poetry has often grown in the midst of solitude and suffering, but even times of trial are opportunities to grow and learn. We can all relate to the strife but also the celebration. His words, both thought provoking and beautiful, require careful attention.