Once Upon a Time

Leah Stenson is a Portland-based poet, editor, and memoirist whose writing explores themes of
trauma, healing, and transformation. Her memoir, Life Revised (Cirque Press, 2020), chronicles
her journey from childhood grief to spiritual renewal, guided by her 50-year Buddhist practice.
Originally from New York, Leah worked as an assistant editor before spending sixteen years in
Tokyo studying Japanese, teaching English, and raising a family. After returning to the U.S. in
1993, she settled in Portland, where she served for several years as Managing Director of the
Oregon Peace Institute. It was in Portland that she found her creative community and began
publishing poetry.
In addition to Life Revised, Leah has authored three poetry collections—Heavenly Body, The
Turquoise Bee and Other Love Poems, and Everywhere I Find Myself—and co-edited the
anthologies Alive at the Center and the award-winning Reverberations from Fukushima. She has
also served on the boards of several literary and cultural organizations and continues to promote
poetry through hosting the long-running Studio Series Poetry Reading and Open Mic. For more
information about Leah and the Studio Series, see www.leahstenson.com/blog.