Meet Karen Pierce Gonzalez, a poet whose work is steeped in the richness of myth, has carved a niche for herself within the literary alliance of The Whiskey Tree first wave poets. Her explorations, deeply personal and yet universally resonant, invite readers into a world where the ancient and the contemporary merge to tell stories of identity, transformation, and the elemental human desire to connect and be understood.
Gonzalez’s journey here began with an exploration of duality through the lens of a pre-Mesoamerican deity, a narrative that not only won the hearts of The Whiskey Tree poets but also paved the way for further exploration into mythic deities. Her encounter with the Olmec Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, marks a pivotal moment in her oeuvre, blending personal introspection with the raw power of mythic narratives. This synthesis, Gonzalez reveals, breathed life into her desire to be loved, transforming her writing into a conduit for profound personal and emotional exploration, ‘This merger of myself with a spirit who arises as the BELOVED breathes life into my desire to be loved. And, in the exchange, I give myself over to the rawness of the serpent whose primal powers are transformative’
Navigating the terrains of myth and self-discovery, Gonzalez admits to the unnerving depth of her poetic journey, ;I had to be willing to stay with this mythic creature, to let it tear through my fears of it , and of myself, so that I could go where it wanted to take me.’ The act of writing became an act of courage, allowing her to confront and embrace the primal forces embodied by her mythic subjects. Through this process, she not only discovered the transformative power of the serpent but also the transformative power of poetry itself to liberate and explore the deepest fears and desires of the human psyche.
Inspiration, for Gonzalez, is found in the everyday magic of the world around us—from the resilience of weeds basking in rainwater and sunlight to the mystical call of Tibetan bells echoing the eternal present. This deep connection to the natural world, coupled with practices that foster physical, mental, and emotional balance, infuses her work with a sense of joy and delight in the sheer act of being.
Gonzalez’s creative sanctuary is her studio, surrounded by art made from natural elements, a space where the boundaries between writing, art, and dance blur, allowing her the freedom to explore the depths of her artistic vision, ‘it’s a cave that makes me feel safe and protected when I journey into artistic realms.’ Her poetry, she confesses, reveals her most intimate secrets and longings, offering a mirror to her own humanity and inviting readers to reflect on their own.
With acclaimed collections such as Coyote in the Basket of My Ribs and True North and Sightings from a Star Wheel, and eagerly anticipated works like Down River with Li Po on the horizon, Karen Pierce Gonzalez continues to captivate and inspire. Her contributions to The Whiskey Tree series enrich the literary landscape and also affirm the power of poetry to explore, heal, and transcend.
‘You spiral my spine. Head to toe, you know exactly what you are doing’
Karen Pierce Gonzalez, Feathered Serpent: Quetzalcoatl
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