The Radius of Home

Abstract

In the tradition of My Life by Lyn Hejinian, I, Afterlife, by Kristin Prevallet, and Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely, The Radius of Home is a poetic adulthood-meets-childhood memoir of perception, language, and survival. From the PTSD-related trauma of a father who served in Vietnam, to a mother whose coming out is attacked by homophobic neighbors, this poetry collection, ranging from prose and matrix poems to lyrical free verse, explores how language can be an attack, shield, or epiphany. Comic books, fast food jobs, and dogs named after rock stars' wives are all a part of this collection that seeks to redefine what makes a family a home.