Let me travel in this spider’s web
and keep my balance
swinging boldly as I spin,
not caring about understanding what I mean
or wondering what I feel;
riddles burden me,
answers seem too familiar.
Let me leave all that behind

(excerpt from Odyssey, Weaver)

Ekiwah Adler Beléndez was born prematurely on September 14, 1987, in Amatlán, Tepoztlán, Morelos. The consequence of anoxia at birth was Cerebral Palsy. He has muscle spasticity and cannot walk by himself, although he has excellent control of the movement of his arms and hands. His speech and intelligence are intact. In the past years his most severe physical problem was a very pronounced scoliosis which required surgery. Ekiwah's father, Robert Adler is a U.S. citizen and Ekiwah has both U.S. and Mexican nationalities.

Because of intensive therapy programs, Ekiwah has primarily been home-schooled. Around the age of 10 he began to write poems and short stories, without any formal education on the subject. He is completely bilingual. His poetry books Soy (I am) and Palabras Inagotables, (Never-ending Words) received both acclaim and awards. Ekiwah was awarded an Honorable Mention for the contest Premio Nacional de la Juventud, (National Prize for the Youth), which was handed to him directly by the Governor of the Sate or Morelos. He has twice been granted a modest 6-month scholarship by the FONCA (the National Institute for Support of the Arts) to sponsor his private literature lessons — an unusual honor because scholarships are not granted to persons his age.

Ekiwah has about 90 new unpublished poems in Spanish, and is just beginning to write in prose. His last book, Weaver, a self-publication, came out on Nov. l6, 2003 and was sold primarily in the United States. Articles have been written about Ekiwah in the New York Daily News, the daily newspaper El Milenio, and the weekly review Proceso.

Mythic Journeys is excited to bring you this amazing poetic prodigy.

Learn more about Ekiwah at his website
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