The Road

When I applied for a job in Japan so that I could study traditional Japanese poetry, I didn't know I would end up studying Chinese philosophy in Taiwan. Nor did I anticipate becoming a teratologist, or any of the revelations that I encountered while on the road. The decision to sail beyond the shores we know is in some respect suicidal. The person you were will die, and even if you return home you will never be the same. This collection explores the concept of "the road", the journey that takes us beyond our familiar pastures and past anything we might recognize - the thrill, the wonder, the heartache, and the despair. Written during my time in Taiwan from 2013 to 2016, these poems are little mementoes I picked up along the way. From the time I gave up a well-paying job in the city I grew up in, through my time as a teacher and a student, to my return home; from the loss of love to political unrest. These are my scars and badges, may they be of use to you. Safe travels and journey well.