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An Arizona native, Earl is a poet and photographer, writing eclectically on everything from the environment to gold mining camps, time, war, poverty, shadows, sexuality, friendship, hermits, children, hope, aging, coyotes, hawks, brigands, fools, danger and death. A political scientist by training, he founded Behavior Research Center, Inc. in 1965, where he created and was Editor of the respected and widely published Rocky Mountain Poll for 35 years. Earl’s photographs, logbooks and essays serve as foundations for his prose and poems.
"Allegro to Life" is his first published book of poetry and has since been followed by "Swans to Guide Me" and "Wind in the Elephant Tree." Earl has also published "A Finger of Land on An Old Man’s Hand," a fascinating account, laced with his poetry and photos, of his adventures as a young man in the Sonoran Desert in Baja California, Mexico, and Arizona. Earl's "Big Ears Jack and Friends," is a charming series of short stories for young readers featuring animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert.
He is currently writing a biography of an iconoclastic poet, while continuing to write new poems and sequels to his popular chapter book, "Big Ears Jack and Friends." Earl and his wife Suzanne split their time between Arizona and Guatemala where they founded the non-profit www.SeedsforaFuture.org which provides training to low-income rural women on how to improve family access to adequate food and nutrition, via home gardens and raising small animals for protein.
Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
Allegro to Life is a collection of reflective poems by Earl Vincent de Berge. They explore themes of nature, human experiences, social struggles, and resilience. The poems are divided into three parts: Songs from My Life, Poems From Guatemala, and Desert Songs. The first part explores the natural environment and reflects on life's fleeting nature, wars, inequality, and pollution. It also covers love, memory, loss, relationships, and human existence. The second section tells a story about Guatemalan life, culture, and history. It contrasts the region's natural beauty with the social challenges the residents face daily. The last part has poems that explore the wildlife of the silent Baja California desert, reflecting on the area's dark history. Overall, the collection invites readers to contemplate the interconnectedness of human experiences and the natural world, while addressing pressing issues of social justice, love, and the passage of time.
I enjoyed reading Allegro to Life because it is well-written and thought-provoking. We often forget the struggles that others face around the world and lack awareness about the damage we are causing to the environment. The poems in this collection are a great reminder of these challenges, encouraging us to be empathetic and mindful. Earl Vincent de Berge offers readers a unique perspective, fostering understanding and connection to others and the world around them. His rhyming verses and the smooth flow of his words made the poems engaging to read. The use of simple language ensures that the poems are understood by people from all walks of life, giving the book a wider audience. I loved the pictures that accompanied the poems because they added a visual interpretation that made the work impactful. This is great work and a must-read for anyone who loves poems that tackle social issues and celebrate nature.
