Talking to a Tree: Poems of a Fragile World - Tapa blanda

With echoes of T.S. Eliot, Aldous Huxley and H.G. Wells, TALKING TO A TREE asks the crucial question of mankind: “is this really how we want to live?” The book surveys the state of humanity revealing themes of conflict and the decay of our human fabric; the poet’s fear is evident, that we are rapidly eroding our humanity and threatening our already fragile world. The book goes on to present timely and powerful images of a new mankind. With the same honesty and boldness first seen in HEAP OF STONES, AE Ballakisten presents a collection of poems that instantly resonates with the ‘thinking-feeling’ reader. The book is appropriately dedicated to Nelson Mandela who embodies all that TALKING TO A TREE hopes for, a return to humanity through the power of love.

AE BALLAKISTEN is a South African poet, academic and social entrepreneur. He holds Masters degrees from M.I.T. University of London and is currently a student at Harvard. After a successful business career in international finance and strategy advisory in the US, UK and South Africa, he retired at the age of 40 to focus on writing and social development in South Africa. He suffered greatly under apartheid in South Africa and overcame significant odds; these experiences have shaped his life and his poetry and are the genesis for his struggle against human suffering - “experiencing apartheid at its most intense has given me a heightened sensitivity to injustice and oppression in whatever forms they manifest anywhere in the world.” AE’s poetry focuses on the human condition and seeks to challenge and inspire us to live consciously and fully. AE published his first book of poetry, HEAP OF STONES, in 2009. His second book of poetry is titled TALKING TO A TREE – Poems of a Fragile World. AE is a strong supporter of South African literature, supporting writers and literary publications as well as presenting a literature radio show which showcases South African writers.