**early life and education** ethel n. adnan, a lebanese-american poet, essayist, and visual artist, was born in beirut in 1925 to a greek mother from smyrna and a damascus-born father, a high-ranking ottoman official. her eclectic background laid the groundwork for her diverse artistic expressions. she studied philosophy at the university of paris, the university of california, berkeley, and harvard university. **artistic journey and t…