While Light is Built

With a clear narrative voice, the poems of Tedi Lopez Mills that appear in this collection represent a philosophic mind attune to beauty even in simple surroundings. Contemplative in nature, the poems read almost as an ongoing conversation - flowing easily and feeling intimately inclusive. The poems appear in both the poet's native Spanish as well as highly-praised English translations.

About the Author :
Tedi López Mills is one of Mexico's foremost poets, and her work has been translated into several languages. Tedi was born in Mexico City in 1959. She studied philosophy at the Mexican National University and literature at the Sorbonne. She has published ten books of poetry: Segunda persona, Horas, Luz por aire y agua, Contracorriente, Parafrasear, to mention a few, and most recently, Muerte en la rúa Augusta, and also two books of prose: La noche en blanco de Mallarmé and Libro de las explicaciones. She has translated the work of numerous American, English and French poets. Her poetry book Contracorriente is being translated into English with a grant awarded by the National Endowment of the Arts. She lives in Mexico City.

Review :
Tedi Lopez Mills represents the modern poet, speaking and singing her own exterior landscape . . . as well as the interior landscape that becomes her mirror: the fields tilled, familiar, or barren that constitute an emotional world in constant exchange, in permanent quid pro quo. Her song in this tonality leads us to what provokes our greatest human compassion: the irreparable solitude of Aeneas, who lives, in one way or another, in almost all of us. Pura Lopez Colome, poet, "No Shelter"" We hear a subtle call and response in Tedi s work. Private event and history and the sensual world prompt each other and choir to suggest not predictable epiphanies, but a congeries of provocative ambiguity that only coheres between light and the trace of a gesture . . . the falling and rising rhythms of death and desire . . . I ve been waiting hungrily for this moment and where or not you know it yet, you have too. Forrest Gander, poet, "Core Samples from the World"" Wendy Burk s lyric genius brings to these Tedi Lopez Mills translations a unique gift of music and transparency. They shine, clear as water, refreshing as water, miracles of clean sun! I am grateful to her. Olga Broumas, poet, "Rave"" "Tedi Lopez Mills represents the modern poet, speaking and singing her own exterior landscape . . . as well as the interior landscape that becomes her mirror: the fields--tilled, familiar, or barren--that constitute an emotional world in constant exchange, in permanent quid pro quo. Her song in this tonality leads us to what provokes our greatest human compassion: the irreparable solitude of Aeneas, who lives, in one way or another, in almost all of us." --Pura Lopez Colome, poet, "No Shelter" "We hear a subtle call and response in Tedi's work. Private event and history and the sensual world prompt each other and choir to suggest not predictable epiphanies, but a congeries of provocative ambiguity that only coheres between light and the trace of a gesture . . . the falling and rising rhythms of death and desire . . . I've been waiting hungrily for this moment and where or not you know it yet, you have too." --Forrest Gander, poet, "Core Samples from the World" "Wendy Burk's lyric genius brings to these Tedi Lopez Mills translations a unique gift of music and transparency. They shine, clear as water, refreshing as water, miracles of clean sun! I am grateful to her." --Olga Broumas, poet, "Rave"