Joel Gaines

I write to help myself heal. I write to confront every feeling with the hopes to turn wounds into weapons. To help all those confront what is hard, and see themselves in different lenses. Most importantly I write to change our collective vision.

In this collection of poems, I hope the reader will begin to understand the struggles of the people of Nicaragua. May you pause when you see someone from a different land. Take the time to listen. Embrace the great privilege of knowing the stories of perseverance. And then, change the way you see others.