Read and discuss a book of poems with others who appreciate poetry and like to take a closer look at form, structure, and craft. Discussions will be lively and interactive, and participants will have a chance to share thoughts and ask questions. Come prepared to read favorite poems, lines, and passages from the book aloud. 

This month's selection is: Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha. The discussion will be led by Dotty Mieux. 

About the Book:

In this poetry debut Mosab Abu Toha writes about his life under siege in Gaza, first as a child, and then as a young father. A survivor of four brutal military attacks, he bears witness to a grinding cycle of destruction and assault, and yet, his poetry is inspired by a profound humanity. These poems emerge directly from the experience of growing up and living in constant lockdown, and often under direct attack. Like Gaza itself, they are filled with rubble and the ever-present menace of surveillance drones policing a people unwelcome in their own land, and they are also suffused with the smell of tea, roses in bloom, and the view of the sea at sunset. Children are born, families continue traditions, students attend university, and libraries rise from the ruins as Palestinians go on about their lives, creating beauty and finding new ways to survive.

And the facilitator:

Dotty LeMieux writes both poetry and poetic memoirs.  She has published five chapbooks, two during the Pandemic: Henceforth I Ask Not Good Fortune from Finishing Line Press and  Viruses, Guns, and War from Main Street Rag Press in 2023. Dotty once edited an eclectic literary and art journal, TheTurkey Buzzard Review. She is thrilled to have received her first Best of the Net nomination in 2023.To keep the lights on, she runs political campaigns, primarily for progressive women candidates, and practices environmental law.  

You can request a copy of the book during the registration process. You can also use your library card to get this title as a downloadable ebook through Hoopla (no queues). Contact library staff if you need help at 415-389-4292.