Forest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian

Latest book on queer ecologies that I'm really enjoying. It's easy to read and full of thoughtful moments.

Here's a preview of a poetic section in the first chapter titled "Interspecies Dens." Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian begins by explaining their affinity with snakes. Snakes are maligned in many Western cultures but in Armenian folklore snakes are wise familiars. The author explores the connection between their Armenian heritage and snakes. They write:

"Growing up detached from a larger Armenian community, I have experienced garod, or a sense of longing my whole life. Or, as the Armenian poet Peter Balakian writes,

garod: tongue of a snake,
meaning exile, longing for home.
................................
Or is desire what garod means?
Longing for a native place." (12)