I wrote these pieces during the tumultuous years of isolation after COVID-19. As I watched the insidious rise of Christian nationalism within the churches that raised me, I questioned what had changed: my convictions, or those of my faith family? And no matter how I answered that question, how could I reconcile the things that mattered so deeply to me with people I loved who saw the world very, very differently?
Though I offer no answers in this collection—because I have no solutions to give—I was reminded along the way that the people we walk with matter in the fullness of their humanity, whether they are people we walked with before, people we walk beside for a while today, or people who are becoming with us tomorrow.
Most of the poems in the collection are already published here on my website—I'm a fierce advocate for art to be accessible to all—but the printed version is unique in a few ways:
- It's organized around the story of my growth into maturity, beginning with concepts of naive independence, discovering the joys of community, and then relying on that community to navigate grief and loss. It concludes by considering the stories we tell and how they shape the legacy we leave behind.
- Every piece of this book is my personal artwork, from the words to the photography. Even the page layouts and the cover design are mine. (So if you find mistakes, they're 100% my fault!)
- It financially supports me as an artist.
I'm thrilled with how the book turned out, and I think you will be, too. Take a look at a few photos:
I hope you read it. I hope you love it as much as I do. And I hope you break its spine, bend its pages, and soak it with your ink and tears. As you read, I'd love to hear what you think.