Erin Reno- The Alchemist

The Alchemist and “In Baghdad, Dreaming of Cairo; In Cairo,
Dreaming of Baghdad”
When read in class, the poem “In Baghdad…” reminded me very much of a book that had been assigned reading in my 9th grade English class.  The book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  It features a young shepherd boy who goes out in search of treasure, though after countless experiences and travels around the world, finds out the treasure was right in the place he started out.  In the poem, the notion of the journey itself being the true way to spiritual guidance goes in accord with The Alchemist, as it is the journey along the way that is Santiago’s true treasure.

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