I am André Couto, from Portugal. I currently work as a wildlife biologist and environmental conservation technician in my country. My career as a science researcher took me to many wonderful places around the world in order to study animals, particularly amphibians (frogs and salamanders), which interest me immensely. During those times I learned a lot about the creatures I was studying, about the places and peoples around them, and about myself. I also learned that nature, culture and art are deeply interconnected and dependent on each other. Although not much of an accomplished artist, I enjoy expressing myself through writing and photography. My source of inspiration has been, and always will be, nature in its many shapes. Because of this, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, where these poems were written.