BEFORE WE REMEMBER WE DREAM available now from Sahtu Press

 

My new collection BEFORE WE REMEMBER WE DREAM is available now from Sahtu Press. 

This is my first book in a hard-copy format in 7 years since DEMONSTRA with the Lao American visual artist Vongduane Manivong. 

This new collection features original art by Nor Sanavongsay and blends memoir and Southeast Asian history, myth, horror and science fiction to examine 45 years of the Lao diaspora. It has a cover by the award-winning Lao American artist Sisavanh Phouthavong Houghton.

These 55 poems focus largely on 1973 to the present from the banks of the Mekong River during the Secret War for Laos to unexpected intersections of Southeast Asian history in the small towns of America and Asian American history. Tragedy, humor, memory and dreams collide to provide readers an understanding of what has been, and what might be.

Inauguration Day Note

So that we can remember: On Inauguration Day 1/20/2017, Gas was $2.09. The Dow 19,819 and NASDAQ 5560.7. Our Unemployment rate was 4.7%.  Where are we now? Work for the change you want for the next 4 years ahead.

Recent Lao Poems From The Diaspora

It's been a few months since my last post here, but just for the fun of it, here's a few of the new poems that have been coming up while I work on my latest projects to address the refugee imagination for Laotians around the world through poetry, visual art, and interdisciplinary activities. What are some of your favorite poems from Laos? Who are some of your favorite poets, and what do you like to read in their poetry?

Transitioning to Laomagination

As some of you may have noticed, over the last few weeks we've been slowly doing the rollout for Laomagination over at Thaoworra.com or http://thaoworra.wordpress.com. On The Other Side Of The Eye will continue to be active but we'll slowly be putting the more important and useful posts over at Laomagination. After the 12th anniversary of On The Other Side Of The Eye, I anticipate this site will be largely maintained as an archive rather than actively updated. Thank you for your support!