John Was Here is a collection of poetic texts and lyrical fragments originally written for the musical work of the same name. Through sharp, evocative language, the author explores themes of distance, memory, and human presence. Each piece stands as a poetic trace - echoing the music it was born with, yet forming a world of its own. A book for readers who listen, and for listeners who read.

John Arthur Lewis Hillstierna is a Swedish composer, writer, and painter. With more than a hundred published compositions and a body of visual work rooted in existential and lyrical themes, his art moves across boundaries of form and medium.

His writing blends poetic sharpness with philosophical undertones, often circling absence, time, and relation.
John Was Here is his first publication that unites the lyrical text with the musical piece from which it arose - yet the poems stand fully in their own voice.

He lives and works in Stockholm.