The Moment and the Sequence

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The Moment and the Sequence demonstrates how certain events in the life of a writer evade traditional modes of storytelling. Such occurrences necessitate a deep dive into their own dynamics and thus require writing poetry if the writer wishes to remain truthful to the experience. These can be deemed as a moment that stands apart from the sequence.

This collection of poetry was written in the years 2012-2020 and many were published in literary journals and are reprinted here. They evidence three distinct themes. The first group charts the transition from the Obama Presidency into the Time of Trump, and these poems are acts of resistance against the erosion of democracy in the United States. They depict an empire in decline with increasing autocracy. Other poems examine queer desire and the burden put on same-sex relationships in such a regime, when equal rights are threatened, but romance is possible and offers redemption and hope for a sense of home. The third group explores family and self, especially how the loss of a beloved mother is a defining incident, one with an impact long past the event itself, provoking an intermittent reworking of one’s own identity. Though the issues explored in the book are serious, elements of playfulness and whimsy often serve as counterpoint in the verse.