Cynthia West says, "Poems form a path, with places to rest from the grief that rides the shoulders with the claws of a hawk. It takes strong legs to carry the sorrow of all who ask. It takes a clear mind to bear the voices. It takes the balance of a tightrope walker not to trip on the pain. The flowers, upholding petals and seeds, understand the burden a yoke can be. Sensing their transience, they announce, "Poems build the road forward, providing hollows where gladness can grow."" Known for her visionary paintings, Cynthia is also a poet, photographer, digital imager, potter and book artist. Her home with many gardens, where she has lived for forty years with her husband and family, is a healing center as well as her studio and gallery. Her works are collected worldwide. West is the author of four previous collections of poetry, For Beauty Way, 1000 Stone Buddhas, Rainbringer, and The New Sun, the last two from Sunstone Press.