Translated from the Spanish by Keith Ekiss with Sonia P. Ticas and Mauricio Espinoza

About the Book

After the flowering of a day’s journey, / clover abandons the perfume’s tribe / and in winter stretches out greenly. / Am I more than clover, or less than space? . . .

Volume III of The Fire’s Journey concludes with Ion supervising the construction and reconstruction of a great cathedral, the house of light designed to repel the Void. What remains for Ion in Volume IV is to celebrate his victory over Chaos, to seek recognition as “the maker of all things,” and to pass along the sacred word to humankind. In The Return, we quickly realize that Ion is not alone in the world as a maker. Odio introduces a minor pantheon of gods from diverse religions, and her own invention, who accompany Ion and Dedalus on their way to the celebration. Together, they advance toward the city in anticipation of a celebration of all things.

"The cardinal virtue of Eunice Odio’s works is their exceptional quality, immersed in a captivating and evocative atmosphere that rewards sensitive souls with inner experiences that open up into wide horizons. Her masterpiece, the magnificent metaphysical poem El tránsito de fuego, is one of the greatest works of poetry of all time.”

—Peggy von Mayer Chaves

About Eunice Odio

Eunice Odio (1919-1974) is considered the leading Costa Rican poet of the twentieth century. She traveled and lived throughout Central America and the United States before settling for much of her life in Mexico City. In addition to her poetry, she was the author of short stories and numerous political and cultural essays. Her complete works were published by the University of Costa Rica in 1996.

208 pages | 5.5 x 7.5 in.
ISBN-13: 978-1-935635-90-1 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-935635-91-8 (hardcover)