Moods of the Year

About the Book

Moods of the Year is a book of contemporary poetry, embracing various aspects of the existence that come to us across the year, and which are expressed through different lyrical tones.

And yet, what type of poetry can be produced in these postmodern times? This work could have become a compilation of ancient styles, adapting them to present situations, or rather an exhumation of an old tone in order to give way to a point of view about contemporary life. Postmodernism has become a riddle in which no direction is defined; there is a search for inspiration, trying to recover old voices: idealistic, materialistic, dialectic, romantic, classic, abstract, surrealistic, all kinds of moods have to be merged if we wish to find the face of contemporary poetry.

Instead of attempting a new definition of postmodern art, this volume contains thoughts and feelings that flow through the pages as they were produced. Originally written with a fountain pen, these words were assembled in different categories, which meant different moods along the year. Ink gave life to verses that helped to express specific moments of inspiration. Thus, there is a mood for romance, another one for meditation, one for playing with words, and other for paying homage to classic authors such as Shakespeare, William Blake, T. S. Eliot, André Breton, William B. Yeats, among others.

Pieces of multiple tastes were produced through this creative exercise. There are a few abstract poems, as well as fifty haikus, some romantic pieces, exquisite corpses (the surrealistic term invented by Breton and his friends, which implies the use of association, i.e., connecting in the mind ideas, sensations and memories), erotic verses, among others. The poems plasticity was in search of Picasso, Dalí, Kandinsky, Van Gogh; so that some samples can be appreciated from a cubistic standpoint, as well as others from an impressionist one, a surrealistic, or an abstract perspective.

But above all, the main ingredient from this book is its versatility. There are different humors in which poetry is inspired. Any hint of truth, any sensation, any variation of luck can produce enough words to become a poem. The universe of poetry is a sphere around the earth, it is a world of words which is still reachable for those who wish to find moments of intellectual joy.

Be welcome to read these pages, in order to find the unwritten verses that may be found within the hidden valleys of the mind, or out there in the moon's most darkened side.

About the Author

Originally a Computer Engineer with an MBA degree, Arturo Gudiño started the new century with a turn in his career. During the last six years he obtained a diploma in Humanities and Culture and is about to finish his bachelor studies in English Literature.

Concerning his literary experience, he has been writing during more than twenty five years. Among the books he has produced there are six of poetry, four novels, three of short stories, one essay about pop culture, two books of theatre plays and another one is a collection of short stories for children. Some of his plays have been performed in amateur stages. He is currently working on his fifth novel.

In the late nineties he was in charge of a literary magazine on an intranet, where he included some articles about Edgar A. Poe, Patrick Süskind, Jorge Luis Borges, the films of Peter Greenaway, among others.

Throughout his professional development, he has had the opportunity to work in different countries, such as Sweden and the former Yugoslavia, the USA, Guatemala, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. These experiences have helped him to understand the culture from different societies.