A Dog Violet in My Hair

About the Book

A Dog Violet in My Hair is the first volume of selected poems by Milina Jovanovic. These poems explore ideas of human and inter-species connectedness, harmony and destruction, the cycle of life-love-death, and the politics of gender identities. Here, Dog Violets--wild flowers of the Mediterranean region--symbolize many concepts including interconnections and affinity of different life forms, the bravery of blossoming early and beyond expectation, the color violet as one of the rarest colors in nature and the color of Aquarians: unconventional and uncontrollable spirits. Jovanovic writes of compassionate love, permanent change, and life and death as components of the same processes of our existence on the Planet. Her poems are strongly expressive of ardent love for humans, animals, plants and the soil. She feels a special connection to dogs of all breeds, large or small; there is no wonder that the word dog appears in the title of this book. At times some readers will find that Milina’s poetry is political. She openly shows her identification and solidarity with all indigenous and oppressed humans as well as plants and animals. Her sensibility and sensuality radiate from many of her poems in this volume. Throughout her poetry Jovanovic reveals that a liberated world exists within and outside of our physical beings and even in today’s oppressive and unjust societies. She fervently pleads to us all to stay artistic, to elevate the standards of conduct and communication, and to embrace the bravery to think and act outside of the mainstream. Her poetry offers readers a venue to see and remain fascinated by the amazing facets of lives that bind all of us to nature and to each other. Jovanovic is not only an original scholar developing a sociological theory of love, but she is also greatly influenced by the works of Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, bell hooks, and Toni Morrison. This book also features Ms. Jovanovic’s original illustrations and an introduction by Milo Radulovich.

About the Author

Milina Jovanovic grew up in Belgrade, Yugoslavia where she received a JD and MA in Sociology and Women’s Studies. In 1998, Jovanovic earned her MA in Social Sciences from San Jose State University. She is a publishing scholar who focuses on youth, gender relations, Fromm’s theory and a new concept of love. Jovanovic resides with her family in Sunnyvale, CA where she relishes her time with her husband and teenage daughter. She is working in a community garden, and addressing the needs of immigrant communities with her faithful Chihuahua-mix, Tina. This is her first collection of poems to be published.