welcome to pouring the light in, a collection born from the depths of a transformative challenge. in 2023, my partner and i embarked on a remarkable journey: to craft a poem each day, weaving the tapestry of our lives with words. as the ink flowed and the days unfolded, a symphony of emotions emerged, painting the canvas of our souls with hues of joy, love, adventure, and liberation.
yet, life had other plans, and amidst the beauty, i confronted the shadows anew. a journey marked by divorce, relocation from chicago to milwaukee, and the chilling specter of a mass shooting in highland park tested the boundaries of my resilience. leaving behind the bustling streets of chicago for milwaukee, i found myself confronting the echoes of loss and upheaval. amidst the tranquility of my new surroundings, the reverberations of experiencing a mass shooting in highland park shattered the illusion of safety, reminding me of the fragility of existence and the omnipresence of grief.
as i navigated these tumultuous waters, the celestial dance of the cosmos mirrored the ebb and flow of my own journey. today, as i pen these final verses, the world outside is cloaked in the shadow of an eclipse-a poignant reminder of the interplay between light and dark, joy and sorrow, life and death. just as the moon temporarily obscures the sun, casting a shadow upon the earth, so too have i traversed the depths of despair, only to emerge once more into the light.
through the tender embrace of my communities and the solace of a daily gratitude practice, i found refuge in the storm, charting a course towards renewal and redemption. drawing upon the skills of grieving and healing honed in the crucible of therapy, i navigated the turbulent currents with steadfast determination, allowing myself to fully embrace the ebb and flow of sorrow and solace.
in contrast to my previous work, which delved into the shadows of trauma and despair, this collection seeks to embrace the full spectrum of human experience. here, amidst the pages, you'll find odes to the ecstasy of love, the thrill of exploration, the warmth of connection, and the sensual delights of life itself.
this collection is more than just a compilation of verses; it is a chronicle of survival, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of joy amidst adversity. it is a tribute to the human spirit, showcasing its remarkable ability to endure, adapt, and emerge stronger from life's trials and tribulations.
as you embark on this journey through this collection of emotions, may these verses serve as a beacon of hope, a source of solace, and a testament to the enduring power of the human heart, illuminated by the ever-shifting dance of light and shadow.
