Introduction to Every Atom by project curator Brian Clements
The words resonate with great humanity and self assurance. A man who is comfortable in his own skin. In this way, I connected to Whitman through Cuba’s patriot poet, José Martí. Whitman and Martí bridge not only life for me as one who has immigrated and lived in the United States most of his life, but also poetry. A personal deep quest to know the self, and the songs that dwell in an unfathomable personal darkness. It’s pure blood poetry.
Virgil Suárez was born in Cuba in 1962. Since 1974 he has lived in the United States. He is the author of a multitude of books, including four novels, two memoirs, two collections of stories and eight collections of poetry, most recently 90 Miles: Selected and New, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. When he is not writing, he is out riding his Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic motorcycle up and down the Blue Highways of the Southeast. He makes his home in Florida.
Cover art by Cecelia Hotzler