It was inevitable. My grandmother, Judith Tovàr Muñoz and my grandfather Samuel Calvillo were accomplished poets. My mother, Gabriela Clementi is also a gifted poet. As a child I “dictated” stories to my mother. In school, I watched and wrote. I am still drawing on those poems and pages. So many more scraps of paper have been written from those days to these. Lifetimes after my first publication in a high school newspaper, I am recommitting myself to my true passion and finding inspiration in everything, at every turn.

      Born in Iowa and raised in Montana to my Mexican mother and German father, I was fortunate to be raised with three languages in the house. I learned a great appreciation for words, books and music.  We were also given the opportunity to travel and school in Mexico and Germany. Germany held my siblings’ attention but mine was always in Mexico. It has proven to continue to give me my greatest inspiration. Perhaps closer to my grandmother’s distant words. After a fretful attempt at college, I was married and have two beautiful children. We had a small farm, with the standard accoutrements, horses, dogs, chickens, ducks, etc… Many an evening was spent watching the sun go down on the dusty plain. Countless nights, the sky was filled with northern lights.

      At last, after many experiences, mistakes, successes, failures, happiness….Words are spilling from every pore. I feel old friends tugging at my soul. I hope to give ownership of my words to those who read them…

-Kyra Judith Benjamin