Swiss-German poet finds self-expression in English

Scheck began writing poetry as a form of therapy swissinfo.ch

A Swiss whose mother tongue is German has been nominated for her seventh international poetry award for her poems in English.

Although virtually unknown in Switzerland, Christina Scheck is regarded as a leading poet in the United States, where her works have been published in 12 anthologies.

Her latest nomination – for “Outstanding Achievement in Poetry” – comes from the US-based International Society of Poets, which has members in over 60 countries.

Scheck has led an eventful life. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where her father worked for a Swiss company, she went to school in Switzerland, became a science librarian, qualified as a doctor specialising in alternative medicine, and just for good measure studied art and art history.

She has also travelled widely and at one stage was a student at the University of North Carolina.

First poem

At her home in Basel, Scheck told swissinfo: “I put my soul into my first poem, submitted it to the poets’ society, and won first prize in a competition.”

Scheck began writing poetry as a catharsis to recover from what she describes as a “nightmare” involving a dispute with the university authorities in North Carolina.

She finds it easier to express herself in English rather than German, and gets her inspiration from long solitary walks in the countryside.

“I’m very drawn to nature,” she said, “and have good powers of observation. So during the walks I use all my senses, and see the small details that other people tend to miss.”

Asiatic Dayflower

Blossoming quietly, just for one day.
Often growing along a highway.
But, always producing new flowers.
Flowers not given to you by lovers,
Yet, the petals so incredibly blue!
Their color so unbelievably true!
The careless would not even observe it,
Why does this beauty of nature grow in every pit?

“Asiatic Dayflower” is included in Christina Scheck’s book of collected works, “In The World Of Dixie” published by Watermark Press of Maryland.

swissinfo, Richard Dawson in Basel

Key facts

Christina Scheck was born in 1954 in São Paulo, Brazil.
After a school education in Switzerland she qualified as a science librarian, completed a course in alternative medicine, and studied art and art history.
She began writing poetry after living for two years in North and South Carolina.
Her collection of verse is published by Watermark Press of Maryland and is entitled “In The World Of Dixie”.
Scheck has been nominated by the International Society of Poets for her seventh poetry award.
She is currently working on a novel based on her experiences in North and South Carolina.