The right amount of light to appear whole is an evening of poetry readings curated by Anamot Press and hosted at the Bureau.
In celebration of andriniki mattis’ debut poetry collection Quiet Fires and inspired by / in solidarity with fellow authors, Megan Pinto, Emily Lee Luan, India Lena González.
The right amount of light to appear whole is a line from andriniki mattis, it encapsulates how these poets stretch the elasticity of the English language through visual poems, empty spaces, shapes and line breaks. Their poems attempt to return from a time that felt separated from oneself and move toward a wholeness, despite daily acts of violences, homesickness, heartbreak, and a fear of shame and sadness returning.
To reserve a copy of Quiet Fires (Anamot Press, 2023, paperback, $18), please write to us at contact@bgsqd.com with “please reserve copy of Quiet Fires” in the subject line.
Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!
This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.
Registration is not required. Seating is first come, first served.
Suggested donation to benefit the Bureau: $10.
All are welcome to attend, with or without a donation.
We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @BGSQD
Readers:
- Emily Lee Luan is a poet and educator. Emily’s debut poetry collection Return was published by Nighboat in April 2023, it explores Taiwanese diasporic experience through the porosnous of language. Tatevik’s favourite poem is ‘Reversible Poem in Dishwasher’, here is what Cathy Park Hong says about Emily’s book: “Luan’s poems, which alloy Chinese and English into feats of formal ingenuity and beauty, translate the unspeakable. Read it once, then read it again slowly to perceive the spectrum of emotions Luan unseams with dexterity.”
- Megan Pinto is a Brooklyn based poet. Megan’s debut collection of poetry, Saints of Little Faith, is forthcoming with Four Way Books in Fall 2024. Tatevik’s favourite poem is Harvest.
- India Lena González is a poet, editor, and multidisciplinary artist. India’s debut poetry collection fox woman get out! was published by BOA Editions in 2023. Tatevik’s favourite poem is “una parda, which is me,”. Here is what Terence Hayes says about India’s book: “India Lena González’s debut is made of exhilarating body language. Her serpentine stanzas, upper- and lowercase characters, and bold exclamations move like Alvin Ailey dancing to lines of June Jordan.”
- andriniki mattis is a Brooklyn based poet. His debut poetry collection Quiet Fires was published by Anamot Press in 2023. Tatevik’s favourite poem is how to live between the lines. Here is what Ocean Vuong says about andriniki’s book: “With an ear finely tuned to the shape and sorrows of living, to the celebration of transformation and survival, mattis has brought forth a work of lyrical prowess that fashions from the self a site of linguistic power and searing dexterity.”
BGSQD