Stephen F. Austin University Press
80 pages
May 8, 2025
DIORAMA is a full-length book of poems that details various forms of hunger from the perspective of a female speaker in turmoil. The collection also serves as a commonplace book which catalogues the author’s poetic influences. DIORAMA’s speaker undergoes a re-wilding process in her exploration of the natural world. The book is divided into three sections beginning in tribulation, acquiring knowledge in the wilderness, and ultimately finding a new awareness. The collection draws heavily from other poets’ work, especially the writing of Gerard Manley Hopkins, Octavio Paz, Elizabeth Bishop, Anne Sexton, and Li-Young Lee. In addition, DIORAMA explores a woman’s relationship with food. The book provides an immersive, sonic experience for readers.