It is only when I breathe that I think of you. It is only when I awaken or fall into sleep that I remember who you are. It is only when, purely by reflex, I open my eyes and shut them tightly again that I can hear your voice as if you were speaking to me. It is on those rare occasions that I find myself walking, or sitting, or lying down. It is on those rare occasions that I find my thoughts work their way towards you across miles and miles of immeasurable distances. Only then do I pause and think of you.
-- Todd Sanders
Todd Sanders lives in Swissvale, where he works as a graphic designer, poet and translator. In 1999, he formed Air and Nothingness Press (aanpress.com) to facilitate the publishing of his translations of French surrealist poet Robert Desnos. To date he has published five books of translations by Desnos: The Circle and The Star (2000), The Secret Book For Youki (2001), Calixto (2004), Mythmaking (2006), and Voyage in Burgundy (2008). He also has three published collections of his own poetry: Underland (1997), Lack River (1998) and Species of Night (2010). Many writers featured in Chapter & Verse are guests of Prosody, produced by Jan Beatty and Ellen Wadey. Prosody airs every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on WYEP 91.3 FM.
