After four years and countless conversations between Brandon Shimoda and I, The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration entered the world on April 1, 2025. You can order it now from Haymarket Books. More details at the TGOM website.
Three new poems: Poetry International Online
With thanks to Blas Falconer and editorial team at Poetry International Online
"7 Books Reflecting on The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II"
Ancestral wisdom for difficult times: A talk at the Unitarian Universalist Church
“From Silence to Story: Ancestral Wisdom for Difficult Times,” a recent talk at Fresno’s Unitarian Universalist Church.
A review of Under a Future Sky in Nichi Bei News
“Stepping out on a journey together with her father, poet Brynn Saito ventures beyond time and space to travel back to the desert home at Gila River where her grandparents met…” With thanks to Jill Shiraki for this reflection on the book!
Two new poems in MORIA
Thank you to the MORIA editors for publishing two new poems, “In the Arrowless Season” and “Slow Burning Ancestor” in their Spring 2024 issue.
A conversation in The Adroit Journal
Thank you to Elizabeth Bolaños and the editors at The Adroit Journal for this space to talk about Under a Future Sky.
"This Is Not What I Ordered" podcast interview
How do uninvited life challenges like chronic illness or loss change us? Psychotherapist Lauren Selfridge hosts “This is Not What I Ordered,” a podcast showcasing compassionate, humorous conversations with people who have been there. I was a guest on the March 13th episode, discussing intergenerational impact of trauma and the healing power of storytelling.
"Poetry Behind Bars" in The Davis Vanguard
“Poetry Behind Bars: CSU Fresno English Professor Brynn Saito Conducts MFA-Style Poetry Workshop with Valley State Prison College Students” in the Davis Vanguard. With thanks to Dr. Jesse Scaccia at Fresno State for the invitation to visit with his amazing students.
Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, CA
ABC Channel 30 Interview
On December 28th, I had the opportunity to sit down with Vanessa Vasconcelos from ABC Channel 30 News to talk about Under a Future Sky.
“A local author and Creative Writing professor at Fresno State shares her family history through poetry and written word.”
"Brynn Saito's Future" by Mike Sonksen in Alta
Many thanks to Mike Sonksen for this recent piece in Alta Journal.
New poem in Good River Review
“You Don’t Believe” published in the Good River Review — thank you to the editors!
Under a Future Sky reviewed by Poetry Foundation's Harriet Books
“Saito deftly posits memory as a tool for survival while simultaneously working to acknowledge the life and creations stolen from those imprisoned” writes Rebecca Morgan Frank for The Poetry Foundation’s Harriet Books.
CAC Individual Artist Fellow
I am thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected as a 2023 Individual Artist Fellow for the Central California Region. Thank you to the @calartscouncil and the administering organization @svcreates for recognizing me as an Established Artist.
Visit SVCREATES’ website to learn about this year’s Fellows.
Launching Under a Future Sky
On August 30th, 2023 (under a super blue moon), we launched Under a Future Sky. Many thanks to poets Lee Herrick, Amber Flame and Jason Bayani for sharing their work! Gratitude to UJCC and Pastor Akiko Miyake-Stoner, Nathan Nakamura, Arlene Eberly, Samina Najmi, Venita Blackburn, Kogetsu-Do (for the manju!), and Gregg and Janelle Saito for helping to make it a wonderful night. Thank you to Brian Garcia for the photos!
"The Messenger" on The Slowdown
“Today’s poem renders visible the change that needs to happen — the vows we make to ourselves in order to grow, to become the person we were meant to be; however painful, however triumphant,” shares poet Major Jackson in today’s episode.
Deadline extended until May 15! Japanese American poetry anthology from Haymarket Books
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for an anthology of poetry on Nikkei – Japanese American – Canadian – Latin American incarceration, written by descendants of the WWII prisons and camps, edited by Brandon Shimoda and myself, forthcoming from Haymarket Books in 2025. Deadline: May 15, 2023. Info/submit: http://bit.ly/40oApTV
The Esaki family at the Turlock, CA detention center in 1942 by Dorothea Lange courtesy of Densho
Two New Poems in The Rumpus
Thanks to the poetry editors at The Rumpus for including these two new prose poems as part of their National Poetry Month series.
Call for Submissions! Closes 4/30
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for an anthology of poetry on Nikkei – Japanese American – Canadian – Latin American incarceration, written by descendants of the WWII prisons and camps, edited by Brandon Shimoda and myself, forthcoming from Haymarket Books in 2025. Deadline 4/30. Info/submit: http://bit.ly/40oApTV
The Esaki family in the Turlock detention center: https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-13
"On Trying to Have a Child": New Poem, Gulf Coast
Thank you to Gulf Coast for including a new poem in their Online Exclusives.
