I wrote A Message to the Unknown Beloved in 1984, 16 years old. There is a sad, wistful tone here, almost mournful and despairing of ever finding one’s Beloved. Compare this poem to the hope expressed in Faith (1985) or
My father’s profession as a career diplomat meant that we moved around a lot during my childhood, and I changed schools every 2-3 years. Being the new girl in class was not always easy, especially when I reached adolescence. I
I wrote Leaving in 1987, 19 years old. It describes the pain of separation and longing for a lover who cannot be with you. Desire begets more desire, and desire and pain can be twins. This does not change with