the island on my back

In poems and photographs, the island on my back paints a portrait of a Cuban immigrant family in Canada, the people and life they left behind, the ghosts that remain, and the island responding, becoming something other than their remembered homeland.

We wait for the sun to decide when everything ends. Las claves keep the rhythm. Here comes the rain.

With attention to personal and colonial histories, alive with rhythm and repetition, complex traditional forms and experimental hybrid modes, the island on my back excavates questions of nation, family, and migration. What is the psychic toll of displacement? Is it easier to leave than to be left? Threaded through the tapestry of the poet’s own life, a vibrant chorus of clear-eyed, dynamic speakers urgently argue, question, recall, invent, mythologize, tell themselves and each other stories of what it is to be Cuban, to be of a place, to imagine the land and listen to its pain, to be displaced, diasporic, grieving, arriving, leaving, returning, constantly explaining, carrying an island on their backs. The island responds, I feed my children the only way I know how: tell them to walk and keep walking until their feet run dry.

the island on my back spans a whole life, a family’s life, a nation plundered under the heat. What remains is what the poet carries, what the people carry, and the poems made under that weight.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs