No Neutral

A collection deeply occupied with the notion of voice and who gets to have one, No Neutral presents poet Shin Yu Pai’s perspective in its expansive range of concerns, reaching toward what’s most authentic. Pai dives into explorations of place and their histories: from Port Townsend and the Inland Empire of Southern California to the deserts surrounding Palm Springs, the poet contemplates one’s identity within these shifting spaces. Throughout the book, Pai weaves poems about social unrest, conflict, solidarities, friendships, the mindset of an activist, and her experiences as a woman, mother, artist, and daughter. She continues her lifelong engagement with the visual arts with poems inspired by site-specific works of Rana Begum, Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin, Richard Turner, and Tyre Nichols, while also turning her attention to the art of Degenerate Art Ensemble.