My piece "Color and Stone" about domestic violence in refugee camps was in the Flight show that opened on Sunday in Northampton, MA. On the coat tails of this, speaking today to the Domestic Violence Task Force was an eye-opening and powerful experience. There were many survivors in the room, I found out later.

Whenever I speak and it is completely silent, I am always so afraid I am boring everyone. I am always then so surprised afterwards when those same silent people tell me how powerful my talk was and my poems.

It takes a lot out of me to address a room full of people, especially about this subject. It's not something I can do every day.

But I learned so much, and it's just incredible the things that are being done these days to help survivors.

I also watched a video of high schoolers from Ware who for 8 years have had their own task force for abuse in relationships. These kids were astounding. I was so moved.

I thank Mary Kociela at the Task Force at the DA's office in Greenfield for giving me the opportunity to speak.

A mixed media journey of lament and possibility using luggage as the foundational medium.