When traveling in Boston my father received an echogram from his beloved wife with just a tiny dot on it. It was me. Overjoyed, my father called my mother (and me!) in Switzerland and insisted we come to the United States immediately.

Like my mother, I was born in October, on a warm, sunny day, when the golden leaves were starting to fall. It was very unusual weather for Boston . In the first hospital photo, I was with my father and mother. It was our new family, our new world. No relatives, no friends, but a new country, new language, rules, laws, habits.

A new life began for all of us on this day.

Very early on I discovered the magic power of poems and their flow. The first poem that really impressed me was one of John Donne's, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. I memorized it. I began writing poems at the age of 8, not because it was my heart's desire – it was just a trick. At school I would get a homework assignment to write my choice of a story or a poem. I was too lazy to want to fill the page with a story. So I choose the easy way – I wrote down a poem quickly, and ran to play with my younger sisters Salome and Anna. Since it was so much easier and faster, I used this trick again and again: at birthdays, for “Thank you” occasions, etc. Then it became my language to express my joy and sorrow. I wrote about oceans and mountains, love and friendship, grandmas and neighbors, even a requiem for my bunny's grave.

Once we were invited to honor the King of Ghana at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston . There was dancing and music, and the king and his noblemen were dressed in national costumes, with magnificent heavy jewelry. I was so impressed that I decided to express my appreciation in a poem. Then my sister Salome and I created a poster with the poem and pictures of Ghana and presented it to our schoolmates. Later my poem was published in the web journal One Ghana One Voice http://oneghanaonevoice.com/2008/12/ghana-yo-elena-tkebuchava.html . The Prince of Ghana was the first to respond, encouraging me to go on writing.

Once my father asked me: “What do you wish?” I didn't understand him exactly. Then he said: “Well, what would you like to accomplish in your life, what are your hopes?” I quickly responded: “I hope to have my bunny in my lap, an ice-cream in my hand, and no school in my head.” My father laughed. “There are people who are very pragmatic since early childhood,” he commented. I realized then that I had to re-evaluate my concept. I went to my room and began to meditate. That's how “I Hope” was born. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZSyOTFtzE

Slowly, I realized that I was taking my writing more seriously. To my delight, though I wouldn't presume to call myself a poet, a few of my pieces were finally published. I was very proud to be admitted to a Poetry Series - poetry evenings for adults, organized by renowned poet Doug Holder at the Newton Free Library. I was also excited when my short story “Charisma of Darkness”, was accepted at BirdAndMoon http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guest189.html . There I described an unforgettable horseback ride in the foam of the waves of the Caribbean Sea , watching the sunset from a high cliff.

One day I realized that I had about 100 short poems about world-renowned artists which I had written as a joke. My parents were not impressed. They always had an example of someone either from our neighborhood or history who was better. So I developed an inferiority complex. But after more than 2 years of struggle, sacrificing two summers and nightly calling on heavenly forces to help me, I eventually completed this work, and “Poetic Easel” was born.

People often ask me how I spend my free time. I love to spend my spare time playing with my sisters. We all like to take care of my two darling bunnies – Demi and Donny – and a parrot named Lorenzo. This parrot looked so proudly at us in a shop that my sister named him Lorenzo after Lorenzo the Magnificent, and insisted we buy him (sometimes your stance defines your destiny!).

My dream is to write another book, where I will describe important facts in history, fine art, architecture, astronomy, etc. I also dream to travel around the world and learn about different nations and cultures.

Poetry is an enigmatic haven of my soul . . .

When I turned 3, I proudly blew out the three candles on my birthday cake. Then my farther quietly said: “You are not a child anymore. It's time to learn.” My parents and grandparents were from Europe, with a broad educational background and each decided to inculcate me with his/her knowledge: Georgian, English, French, Latin, music, fine art, history, astronomy, mythology, poetry, literature, medicine, then ballet, sport, etc.

I am an avid reader. Both American and European literature fascinates me. But my real passions are fine art and history. Together with my sisters we memorized all the important dates and historical turning points starting with the foundation of the first cities in Mesopotamia.