I am home. in #Richmond, #Virginia! with #friends. As the book connects worlds… I met artist Kirana Stover in #Sitges, Spain, in 1997 and then I met poet Lauren Alleyne in #Dubuque in 2012. In 2023, Kirana went to Richmond to be near her #mother in #hospice (like what happens in I am home.) and Lauren went to Richmond as a keynote speaker for a #poetry celebration (she is now the director of #furiousflowerpoetrycenter at #jamesmadisonuniversity ) … and while I was staying at Kirana’s home in Spain, I noticed a JMU cutting board and learned that Kirana’s mother went to JMU… so Kirana went to hear Lauren speak and loved her and she presented her a copy of #iamhome and Lauren sent me (in Barcelona) this picture 
as the #world turns. 
#summerreading#goodbook#nonfiction#poetic#remembrance#gratitude#friendship#travel#love#beauty#wonder#grief
. This reader loves the poetry on the pages and the way that despite the difficulties on them, they are light and life-giving. 
Marianne Maili 