Emerging BIWOC Poet Spotlight
This monthly series features poems by women of color in the early stages of their publishing careers. It is our intention to create more space at Perugia for the work of poets who are Black, Indigenous, and women of color (BIWOC). We hope using our platform to celebrate this work will expand the readership of the poets we spotlight. This series aligns with Perugia’s mission to support and promote emerging women poets; featured poems will be from poets with no more than one published full-length collection. We’d love to hear from readers with suggestions for poems & poets to feature.
June 2023 Poet: Krystal A. Smith
Cycles
Water from the last storm has finally gone, receded into earth. The rings of its visit show on the side of the house. You were that tall once, measured in string and charcoal by Papa's hands. He moved like water, like rain. Steady, steady, then slow until not at all. Memories move like that too. There, then not there.
Source
This is Not About Love, BLF Press, 2021
Poet Bio
Krystal A. Smith is a poet and speculative fiction writer. Her poems have appeared in Entropy, Serendipity, Kissing Dynamite, and Sinister Wisdom. Her collection Two Moons: Stories was a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Finalist. Her poetry collection This is Not About Love (BLF Press, 2021) explores the complexities of human emotion and relationships via memory, experience, and imagination. Follow Krystal: Twitter @authorkasmith; Instagram @ka_writes.