Sonam is the "dharma" name given to me when I took buddhist
"refuge vows" back in 1994. It also became a nickname I was known
by when I chatted with those who frequented EFnet channel #tibet
using Internet Relay Chat. I choose to write poetry under this
"nom de plume" because I feel that when I write, my poems come from a
more contemplative and insightful side of myself. The side that
is elsewise occupied with a career in the computer software training
field, feeding my cat Toby and keeping up with friends and
acquaintances is known as Chris Gaca.
I have recently attended a poetry writing workshop with Richard
Tillinghast at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. There, with
a group of 17 other aspiring poets, I received a lot of helpful
feedback and constructive criticism of my poems as well as ideas on
how to get out and get published!
My poetry has won an "Editor's Choice" award from the National
Library of Poetry as well as recognition from the Famous Poets
Society. Last year I contributed to a multi-media display that
was a collaboration of several artists in a downtown Syracuse,
New York store front. I have also published a "Calendar of
Original Verse" wallcalendar and plan to do other versions of
this in years to come.
Your comments about my poems and this web site would be most
welcome. To contact me email: sonam@servtech.com, or by Snail
mail: Sonam, P.O. Box 368, N. Syracuse, NY 13212.