In the Wild
Presence poem + 'A Sense of Place' out for release!
This poem was written in late spring 2020 during the dog days of quarantine shortly after moving back to my hometown of San Marcos. It was the first poem I’d written since returning home and in a way, marked the start of the creative season that ultimately led to the making of A Sense of Place. Its rhyme scheme is rudimentary and innocent, almost in a childish way; fitting perhaps considering when and where it was conceived. When I read it now, I can still sense the feelings that consumed me around this time: seeking out joy in subtle day-to-day moments, longing for simplicity, and the desire to be outdoors. As the detachment of the pandemic gets further in the rearview, I hope I’ll remember the joy found in reflecting on these simple pleasures.
“Things I Like” can be found in the San Marcos section of A Sense of Place.
Release Day
It’s for real. As of last Friday, my first published collection of writing and photography is officially out in the wild. I have so many feelings about this project finally seeing the light of day, but most of all, I’m appreciative and very stoked to share it with everyone. This zine has been over a year in the making and I’m both elated for its release and extremely grateful for all the support it has received so far.
Originally, I didn’t have any plans beyond a single run of printed copies, mostly because I didn’t want to wind up with most of them tucked away in a box in the corner of my closet. I’m proud to say that the first run of prints has nearly sold out and a second order has been placed through the good folks at Mixam. With the first run being down to the final copies, any new orders from this week on will likely be on backorder until the second shipment of zines comes in (looking like the first or second week of December). Truly lost for words and so, so thankful.
Order a physical copy of A Sense of Place here.
Photo Essay
Last week on Instagram, I shared a film spread of a few places that have meant a great deal to me over the past year and a half. The locations in these images also represent the basis for the individual sections of the zine.
More than anything, this zine has always been about place — not just travel, but how place affects our perspective and our search for meaning. Each of these places has left an indelible impact on me for one reason or another. The common denominator between them is that they’ve all contributed something to my understanding of self and appreciation for the natural world, something which I deem invaluable.
Here’s another peek at those photos, with a few additional ones from the zine that haven’t previously been shared.
Treats
If you made it this far into the newsletter, I wanted to drop one more small bit of news here before sharing it on other platforms. In addition to another run of physical copies, I’ve decided to make a digital version of the zine available for free viewing online to ensure it is easily accessible for anyone curious about the project or those who want to see it before buying a physical copy. This link will be live on my website and social channels in the coming weeks, but for now, it only lives here. Enjoy!
Check out the digital version of A Sense of Place here.
A Sense of Place is available for purchase through my personal website. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more frequent updates.
I have sat in an uneasy chair.
I am a tear of the sun.
I am a hill
where poets run.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti // “Autobiography”