"Extinction" by Geza Tatrallyay is a collection of poems and haikus inspired by our relationship with our planet and nature. Within the collection the author paints a gloomy and realistic picture of how mankind has mistreated the planet, and what is in store for us because of the damage we have done.
The book is divided in three sections: The World, Species, and Personal. Although these sections are three points of view, I felt they all focused on how we have affected our planet. The last section shows more of the author's own life experience yet, I felt that it also spoke of the effects that we, as a species, have on our world. Through this premise the author explores the dark side with works like 'Haiku: eons ago, ' 'melting Polar Ice Cap, ' and 'Extinction, ' among others. Through his words readers will visit a world that is losing hope as mankind looks the other way instead of changing their ways.
Geza Tatrallyay's voice is unique in the sense that it somehow manages to take readers though this hopeless world of impending death of the planet, and yet inspire our sense of humanity. It calls for us to stop being witness and begin being active in nourishing our hurting planet.
Extinction is Tatrallyay's third collection of poetry published by P.R.A. Publishing.
Author Biography:
Born in Budapest, Geza Tatrallyay escaped with his family from Communist Hungary in 1956 during the Revolution, immigrating to Canada. After attending the University of Toronto Schools and serving as School Captain in his last year, he graduated with a B.A. in Human Ecology from Harvard College in 1972, and, as a Rhodes Scholar from Ontario, obtained a B.A. / M.A. in Human Sciences from Oxford University in 1974. He completed his studies with a M.Sc. from London School of Economics and Politics in 1975. Geza worked as a host in the Ontario Pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, and represented Canada in epée fencing at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. His professional experience has included stints in government, international finance and environmental entrepreneurship. Geza is a citizen of Canada and Hungary, and as a green card holder, currently divides his time between Barnard, Vermont and San Francisco. He is married to Marcia, and their daughter, Alexandra, lives in San Francisco with husband David, and two sons, Sebastian, and Orlando, while their son, Nicholas, lives in Nairobi with his Hungarian wife, Fanni. A Vermont native, Mr. Smith was raised in an artistic family with New England and midwestern roots. His love for and involvement with music, painting and poetry began naturally before he could remember and still remains. Educated at University Preparatory School, Dennison University (B.A.) and Harvard University (A.M., PhD.) he served as professor of Philosophy and dean at Emerson College (Boston), Royalton College (Vermont) and Canaan College (NH). He also taught at Dartmouth and Harvard. His love of opera he shared every Saturday on Vermont Public Radio for forty years in a program he wrote, narrated and produced. He was 13 when he began to write poetry and has never stopped. Now retired from both radio and teaching, he works exclusively on all aspects of poetry full-time; reading, writing, publishing and giving readings. Poetry, music and family are his life.
