With echoes of T.S. Eliot, Aldous Huxley and H.G. Wells, TALKING TO A TREE asks the crucial question of mankind: "is this really how we want to live?" The book surveys the state of humanity revealing themes of conflict and the decay of our human fabric; the poet's fear is evident, that we are rapidly eroding our humanity and threatening our already fragile world. The book goes on to present timely and powerful images of a new mankind. With the same honesty and boldness first seen in HEAP OF STONES, AE Ballakisten presents a collection of poems that instantly resonates with the 'thinking-feeling' reader. The book is appropriately dedicated to Nelson Mandela who embodies all that TALKING TO A TREE hopes for, a return to humanity through the power of love.