Author
Joseph Spence advises us to "touch the Buddha" inside us, "Follow the Dharma," "bring to light true love," "bury the drums of warfare." T. S. Eliot also in his The Waste Land (1922) reveals the impact of Buddhism: "Datta, dayadhvam, damyata" (Give, sympathise, control). "Dantescan light" prevails around Joseph's luminous and visionary book celebrating Buddhist enlightenment. Joseph Spence has created a convincing Haiku world in which our search for moral pivot can take place. His haikus are a testimony to the fact that as a haiku poet his place is secure and permanent by virtue of his message, delicacy, a crystalline charm, and his dignified utterance.
The book becomes more attractive with the inclusion of poems about soup and food. Lewis Carroll's apt words "Who for such dainties would not stoop?" ("The Mock Turtle's Song") are truly applicable to these soup poems, enough to cheer up the people when they are feeling down. Joseph is the inventor of the Epulaeryu poetic form which is about succulent dishes, drinks and various cuisine. The Awakened One Poetics is divided into Section One, Beautiful Smiles from Japan, Poland and China; Section Two, Enchanting Smiles in Japanese, Spanish, Polish & Chinese; Section Three, Captivating Smiles from Egypt, Poland and China; Section Four, Elevating Smiles in French, Polish & Chinese and Section Five, Radiant Smiles in Jamaikan Patwa, Polish and Spanish.
It is a multilingual book with Chinese, French, Polish, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic and Jamiekan Patwa translations. Cross-cultural cosmopolitanism inspires Joseph Spence, and here he is different from Voltaire and Goethe. "Even Voltaire's and Goethe's concepts of littérature universelle and Weltliteratur were basically monolingual and linked to linguistic patriotism and imperialism"
The Dawning of New Light for the Mind, Body and Soul!
Let me first say that I am awe stuck and am in amazement regarding the essence of this book. Joseph Spence has certainly established a quality of poetry that has depth, width and height. Having known him for several years, I have been addicted to his variety of poetry forms and style of writing; however, with this book he has launched a golden beam like rays from the sun which uplifts the spirit and the soul. He has provided me with mentoring and quality guidance over the years and I have adopted his unique brilliance of creativity; however, The Awakened One Poetics has established a new dawn for me to aspire toward with sparkling eyes as I am looking into the light.
The book which is laid out in what I would consider seven sections. It is also written in seven different languages: Chinese, French, Polish, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic and Jamiekan Patwa, with translators from across the world. This shows his tenacity of patience, coordination, and intestinal fortitude of getting others to function in unity on the same sheet of music. This is just quality creative writing coupled with the art of moving together as one, as his poems highlight.
Regarding art, this book has a variety of haiga poems by Joseph which raises one’s level of community strength in doing the right thing, because that is the right thing to do. On another note, his artistry is exceptional and down to earth. I had no idea he was an artist and has taken art classes. Having combined artistry and haiku to produce the haiga poem is just brilliant and I have no doubt that Yosa Buson, the great Japanese painter and poet from the Edo period, would have been proud of his artistry and haiga style. Additionally, I feel deeply moved within that Matsuo Basho and Kobayasi Issa the great haiku poets who started this awesome tradition in Japan during the Edo period are looking down on him with a smile. Additionally, the Buddha has shown him the glowing gold inside.
This is just a remarkable book to uplift the mind, body and sou l with. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone to read. This is really a golden nugget to have for lifetime memories.
--Mary Ann Duhart, Author and Poet, of Healing Through Poetry—available in book stores.
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