In 1984, New Directions published Octavio Paz’s SELECTED POEMS, offering a generous collection that covered much of his career, focusing particularly on his major works from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. However, for those seeking a more comprehensive insight into his oeuvre, the bilingual volume The Collected Poems of Octavio Paz, 1957-1987 proves indispensable, providing nearly complete coverage of that prolific period. This collection also includes the significant addition of ARBOL ADENTRO (A TREE WITHIN), notable not only for being Paz's first new poetry book in a decade but also for its simultaneous release in Spanish and English, a rare achievement for a book of foreign poetry, as noted by editor and primary translator Eliot Weinberger.

A TREE WITHIN, which occupies around 150 pages of the volume, stands as a compelling reason to explore this collection. The opening section is composed of short poems that delve into the essence of poetry itself. With diverse references and allusions spanning from antiquity to modernity, and drawing from the cultural landscapes of China, Japan, India, and the West, these poems showcase the vast intellectual and empathetic range of Paz. These early pages serve as an introduction to a deeper exploration as the book progresses, focusing on Paz’s profound engagement with themes of time, memory, and mortality.

While the literary world often romanticizes the early brilliance of poets like John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Arthur Rimbaud, there is an equally compelling authority that comes from a lifetime of experience and honed craftsmanship. This is exemplified in Octavio Paz’s mature works such as VUELTA (RETURN), PASADO EN CLARO (A DRAFT OF SHADOWS), and now A TREE WITHIN. These works not only highlight the evolution of his poetic mastery but also underscore the depth and richness that come from a life dedicated to the art of poetry.