A Hidden River

About the Book

A Hidden River is a collection of stories and poems dealing with the themes of humanity’s assault on its environment and on itself. After long years of federal service, the writer returned to California and found it overrun with industrial, defense and residential development and obsessed with violence. He responded to this condition with poems of fantastic revenge, nostalgia and sorrow, such as “Plum Valley --- Joaquin and Me,” “Apricot,” and “Red Cadillac.” Some stories and poems also deal with our society’s violent disregard for human civility and the continuing presence of violence against other human societies. These would include “The Amazing Death of J. J. Finkelstein” and “An Ode to My Mexican Pot.” Any country willing to kill or disparage its own will certainly not stop at mauling others. “The War Bird” and “Mars, 2003” are poems of dread, anticipating prolonged, exploitative war. Pax Vobiscum.

About the Author

Anthony Adrian Xavier Pino teaches composition, literature, critical thinking and developmental writing at Ohlone College in Fremont, California and at San Jose City College. His dominant interest is in poetry but he also writes occasional short stories. He has been published in tattoohighway, riverbabble, Oasis Journal, and other publications. He has won the Jackie DeClerq poetry award and other awards for his writing. He has been employed by the US government and by Stanford University. He has lived in Germany, Virginia and his home state of California. He loves to travel, saying that movement is essential to writing. He enjoys sharing his time with his wife, Judy, his students, and with other writers. He invites everyone to work and pray for world peace.