Marilyn Stablein Libri

Marilyn Stablein's journey through India and Nepal captures the intersection of Western and Eastern cultures through a series of vivid encounters and observations. She explores unique aspects of life, from Tibetan hotels to animal sacrifices, while showcasing a diverse array of characters, including an untouchable woman from a tantric sect and a washerman instructing hippies. Blending reportage, folk tales, and exotic narratives, Stablein offers a rich tapestry of dreams and reality, creating an intimate portrait of life in these lesser-known regions.

Exploring the lives of often-overlooked creatures like lice, leeches, and rats, the author presents a unique perspective that blends humor and empathy. With a serene detachment reminiscent of the master Sumi-e, she chronicles their vivid lifestyles while intertwining the adventures of two contemporary traveling monks. Through elegant prose, the narrative invites readers to appreciate these "vermin" as fascinating cultures rather than mere pests, revealing the beauty and complexity of life in unexpected places.

Milepost 27  showcases the poet's examination of the effects of climate change. From the bone altar of a Native American shaman who prays over disturbed land honoring deceased ancestors to the phantom forests of New Mexico where a ponderosa forest once thrived, Stablein has an eye for surreal environments, especially the drought-parched firescapes that have become increasingly common across the globe. A number of Stablein's poems recall her post-Beat travels to Asia in the 60s where she studied art for six years. With a keen eye for detail, her poems evoke the rich cultural and spiritual life of people she met and places she lived, "from New York to Nepal; from Juarez to Varanasi; from Kathmandu to farflung rivers and seashores." Her most poignant poems evoke her grief after the unexpected, accidental death of her son. From despair to acceptance, the arc of the book weaves up and down, in, out and around the familiar American obsession with the open road. Ultimately her lonesome journeys down the Jornado del Muerto adn the Route 66 caminos give way to acceptance, appreciation, and joy.