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Paths of the Soul: A Journey Towards A Great Horizon

by Maria Ann Lezama

87 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1204; ISBN 1-4120-3377-2; US$13.50, C$15.32, EUR11.00, £8.00

Go gently along the path and encounter new and familiar horizons. Peruse the pages and discover the Great Perhaps. Journey across the waters and encounter the healing room.

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About the Book      About the Author      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

Paths of the Soul is presented in chronological order. One may say that it is a journal which spans two decades. It has taken many years of encouraging and support from loved ones to make the step towards publishing. Opening the pages, one might catch a glimpse of my inner sanctum.

Though I started writing poetry at the ripe old age of ten, Paths of the Soul is a collection of poems which tells the story of my journey out of my family home and into adulthood. This has taken me into and away from Religious Life and has led me away from my homeland, Trinidad and into my heartland, Ireland.

In a very profound way, my life has found expression in poetry. The sea has been my symbol (metaphor) for God, therefore, many of the poems were penned at the seaside.

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About the Author

I was born in Arima, Trinidad, the fifth of nine children, five boys and four girls. Having four older brothers 'girly' names were not appealing. Instead of tree climbing, football and cricket were favoured pastimes. Of course there were the occasional fights with boys in the neighbourhood, and if there was not the thrill of victory, there were always the four big brothers!

The years 1970 to 1983 were the good old schooldays and a period of formation at the hands of the St Joseph of Cluny Sisters (of the Irish Province). Poetry, choir, choral speaking and religious education were of utmost importance... and let's not forget, good manners at all times. Each of these were to be claimed and proclaimed by every self respecting 'convert girl'. I wholehearted embraced these 'finer things of life'. The years 1984 to 1999 were devoted to studies and teaching at primary level. During 1985 to 1996 Religious Life and all things pastoral consumed me.

Special interests have always been in areas of sport, music, the disabled and the elderly. I spent many years in teaching, parish/pastoral involvement, church choirs, folk groups and regular visits to 'special needs' homes in Trinidad. Having a sense of greener pastures, I packed up in 1999 and journeyed North East, across the Atlantic, to the L'Arche Community in Cork, Ireland.

Coming to Ireland meant having three dreams come true. The first dream was to live in community. Initially, in religious Life, this was realized. However, with time, community living faded as some people became more and more individualistic. The second dream was to work with persons with disabilities. Regular visits to 'special needs' homes in Trinidad seem now to have been a foretaste of what was to come. The third dream was to be in Ireland. I always had a great love for Irish music, poetry and history. Luckily, I came to know many Irish people and love them too.

Through divine intervention, the sudden opportunity arose in 1999 to come to Cork to live, work and share life with persons with learning disabilities (and other assistants like myself). At the bat of an eyelid, I packed my bags and headed across the waters to a new horizon. Now I am at home in L'Arche, in Cork and in myself. My once restless spirit has been put at ease. Now, I am living the dreams.

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Excerpts

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Catalogue Information

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