Today I received an early copy of Every Place on the Map Is Disabled: Poems and Essays. This new anthology from Northwestern University Press features three of my poems and one of my essays — alongside the extraordinary work of contemporary disabled poets. I recognize many of my co-authors — like Jill Khoury, Eli Clare, and Meg Day — and I’m thrilled to be included with them.
My poems and essays appear in the fifth section of the book: Journeys and Becomings.
The Poems
“Faith” is a poem that explores secular and sacred beliefs, mapping a world where grace is found through mutual understanding.
“Deficiencies” is one of the “dog poems” — and my only poem to be translated into a painting. The two dogs under the table are the real stars here; they know something I’m still trying to figure out.
And “Among the Blind” is coming into print for the first time. This poem tries to capture the intense comfort and strength of being surrounded by one’s tribe and not having to explain oneself to others. This is my valiant response to those who see disability as tragedy or deficit.
The Essay: “The Blood and Candor of Craft”
This piece was originally published in Wordgathering in the Gatherer’s Blog, a series that features writers on writing. In this piece, I ask what disability poetry is supposed to do — and what it can do. It is a defense of poetry as a help and a miracle.
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The book is available for pre-order on Amazon. I hope you enjoy it!
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