Gobi Dream: Poems and Photographs by John Delaney

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Land-locked, democratic Mongolia, sandwiched between two authoritarian superpowers (Russia and China), is a marvel, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. This land of Genghis Khan still features herding nomads—of horses, cows, sheep, goats, camels, and yaks. Clearly, I was unprepared, and so will you be, as you follow my travel in that wonderful country. #mongolia, #ulaanbataar, #deerstones, #horseheadfiddle, #steppes, #muskox, #dinosaurs, #petroglyphs, #shaman, #sandstorms, #goldeneaglehuntress, #reindeerpeople, #flamingcliffs, #ger, #gandan, #genghiskhan, #chinggiskhan, #temples, #camels, #horsemen

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John Delaney retired after 35 years in the Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections of Princeton University Library, where he was head of manuscripts processing and then, for the last 15 years, also curator of historic maps. He’s written a number of works on cartography, including Strait Through: Magellan to Cook and the Pacific; First X, Then Y, Now Z: An Introduction to Landmark Thematic Maps; and Nova Caesarea: A Cartographic Record of the Garden State, 1666-1888. These have extensive website versions. He’s been writing poems for most of his life, and, in the 1970s, attended the Writing Program of Syracuse University, where his mentors were poets W. D. Snodgrass and Philip Booth. In subtle ways, they have bookended his approach to poems. In 2017, John published Waypoints, a collection of place poems. Twenty Questions, a chapbook, appeared in 2019, and Filing Order: Sonnets and CATechisms, poems and photographs about his senior cat, came out in 2025. In addition, John has published a number of “poetic travel guides” based on his trips, often preferring remote, natural settings: Delicate Arch: Poems and Photographs of National Parks and Monuments (2022), Galápagos (2023), consisting of his son’s color photographs and John’s poetic responses, Nile (2024), poems and photographs about Egypt, and poems and photographs about Morocco (2026). He makes his home in Port Townsend, WA.

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Land-locked, democratic Mongolia, sandwiched between two authoritarian superpowers (Russia and China), is a marvel, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. This land of Genghis Khan still features herding nomads—of horses, cows, sheep, goats, camels, and yaks. Clearly, I was unprepared, and so will you be. John, the book looks wonderful. The script and pictures match and there is no misleading information at all. I liked the proverb you chose there.
–Munkhbat Batbekh, our Mongolian guide

Gobi Dream is a thoughtful and evocative journey through Mongolia’s landscapes, cultures, and traditions. Inspired by his travels across the country, John Delaney combines poetry and photography to capture moments of encounter with Mongolia’s vast steppes, ancient heritage, and resilient nomadic way of life. From the quiet assembly of a ger and the music of the horsehead fiddle to the mystery of deer stones and the timeless beauty of the Gobi Desert, the collection reflects both curiosity and a deep appreciation for Mongolia’s history and living culture. Through these reflections, Delaney invites readers to experience the sense of wonder that Mongolia inspires in travelers, scholars, and dreamers alike. This book offers not only a poetic portrait of a remarkable land, but also a reminder of how meaningful encounters across cultures can deepen our understanding of the world.
–Davaasuren Myagmar, In-Country Director, American Center for Mongolian Studies; Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Mongolian Library Association

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