Book House Book-Signing: Dawn Marar, April 25

This was a book-signing & reading by poet Dawn Marar at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany from her 2018 book Efflorescence (Finishing Line Press) to benefit a project by Women Against War to benefit RISSE (Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus), a family-based center in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany NY.

Although Dawn has done other readings since the book was published about a year ago, many folks in the audience seemed not to be familiar with it & the proceeds were going to support RISSE, so it was gratifying to see such community support. Of course I’ve heard her read from this book on at least 3 occasions, & you can find accounts of those readings on this Blog.

The room was quite full with community folks & activists for what was a short reading, but one that kept extending as some folks arrived late. Many of the poems are about her travels in the Middle East & her examining the “foreign” cultures & politics from her her point of view as an American, albeit a sensitive, compassionate poet.

She also shared some new poems, notably one responding to native American culture. You can get her book directly from Finishing Line Press or from the Albany independent bookstore, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.