a forest in his pocket

“Once there was a man who found a forest in his pocket. When he came home after a day’s work he took it out. His house would fill up with deer and bear, green moss, amber grass. He strolled through green valleys and stands of old oak that poked through his roof into the sky. He cooled his feet in the flowing stream. He rested in the clear air as he ate his dinner. His neighbors came to hear birdsong and rushing rivers. On occasion people gathered on his lawn drawn by the call of the forest. Even those who came to complain, once inside wanted to stay. He invited them in for a meal, shared stories into the night. And they gazed with wonder at blue mountains, constellations in the sky and began to remember their true names.”

Ray Cicetti's first book of poems, published by Finishing Line Press. Poetry about life, and love.

Praise for "A Forest in His Pocket"

A Forest in His Pocket by Ray Cicetti is a brilliant debut book from an outstanding poet. Through the poems in this collection, Cicetti invites readers to join him as he shares a narrative of spiritual discernment and growth…Each poem is rich in imagery, skillfully compressed, and superbly crafted. Buddha is quoted as saying,” It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It can not be taken from you.” In these poems, the victory belongs to Ray Cicetti, but victory is not only his. It is a shared gift that the poet offers to anyone who joins him in seeing deeply.

–Adele Kenny, Founding Director, Carriage House Poetry Series

Ray Cicetti does, indeed, have “a forest in his pocket”—a forest of marvel and recognition. He’s shown it to us so that we can share in its fresh, animated place of sustenance, community, and the possibility of recalling “our own original shining.”

–Renée Ashley, Author of Ruined Traveler, a book of prose poems, and Creative Writing teacher at Farleigh Dickinson University.

a forest in his pocket

Praise for "A Forest in His Pocket"

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