"To create true poetry requires hunger and passion, and Ana Elsner has it, in spades." –Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Ana Elsner was born in the British sector of postwar Germany and was educated in Europe and the U.S. During her studies at Georgetown University, she decided to make her home in this country. She taught ESL and later worked at two publishing houses. Eventually, she pursued a career in business and is now retired and living in Northern California.

Ana Elsner is engaged in writing broad ranging prose and poetry. She supports a variety of grassroots causes as a volunteer and adviser.

In the spirit of artistic freedom and innovation, the poet Ana Elsner originated a new and unique form of contemporary English language haiku. She coined the term 'moku', short for 'modified haiku', in order to describe her own characteristic 3-liners which are based on haiku but do not conform to the traditional 17 syllable format. Elsner's moku has already gained recognition among a circle of her peers.

In addition to writing her own poems and moku, Ana Elsner is translating the poems of Paul Celan into English in an ongoing project.

Ana Elsner's latest book of poetry, 'Ciphers Of Uncommon Origin: Poems by Ana Elsner', Volume I, was published in June 2007 by InstaPLANET Press, Language Maker Poetry Series.

Forgetting Eyes, a poem by Ana Elsner, appears in PRIVATE - International Review of Poetry and Photography, pg. 76, Issue # 40, Spring 2008; Castel Bolognese, Italy.

Projects in the works:

All Poems Actual Size - The Poetry of Ana Elsner, slated to be published in Spring 2009  [Title © 2007 Ana Elsner]

Resurrected Omissions - Poems and Translations by Ana Elsner, slated for publication Summer 2010  [Title © 2007 Ana Elsner]

-:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-  -:-

Ana Elsner has given solo readings as the featured poet on live Internet radio and podcasts. She is a frequent guest poet at public and private poetry venues.

[Please note: For the sake of brevity this profile has been condensed. To read additional information see Ana Elsner at Wikipedia.]

.

Poet’s Statement

"My work is seasoned by a life lived in a great diversity of cultural contexts, which enables me to transcend the limits of onedimensionality. Although often provocative and (self) critical in tone, and neologistic in language, I consider my poems to be ageless and intellectually and emotionally accessible to a broad and diverse readership."
Ana Elsner, 2006

.

Dedication

Ana Elsner has dedicated her work to raising the popularity and status of poetry in the everyday consciousness of society.

.

Future Engagements

Ana Elsner is available to feature at poetry events and reading engagements in the San Francisco Bay Area. For inquiries please contact her publisher by email: ten@instaplanet.com 

 .

Purchase Books

Ciphers Of Uncommon Origin - Poems By Ana Elsner, Volume I, is available for purchase at

The Beat Museum, 540 Broadway, San Francisco

Bird & Beckett Books, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco

The Modern Times Books Collective, 888 Valencia Street, San Francisco

online directly from the publisher InstaPLANET Press

and at all of Ana Elsner's public reading engagements and featured poetry events (see sidebar) where the Poet will sign your copy of Ciphers by request.

Ana Elsner supports independent bookstores

::