The University of Guam (UOG) Press will launch Signs of Being, a collection of poetry, prose, and commentary by C.T. Perez. The book explores CHamoru cultural identity through the lens of ec(h)o literature, which interprets signs in the natural world as messages from ancestors.
For Perez, this collection is a heartfelt effort to express the unexplainable—the essence of CHamoru consciousness and spirit.
“It’s an effort to reach that level of expression of what is in the heart and soul of a terminal being,” Perez explained. “I’m closer to passing than to living. I’ve lived more than half my life, and I’m comfortable saying that. Aging is beautiful. It’s hard, but it’s also a challenge for the CHamoru people. We’ve survived many struggles, yet we continue to find joy in life and in being.”
Perez has previously contributed to Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia and Indigenous Women: The Right to a Voice, among other collections. She is recognized as a leading voice in CHamoru famalao’an (women’s) poetry.
Signs of Being is the second and final publication in UOG Press’s Famalao’an Poets Project, which aims to highlight and celebrate poetry by CHamoru women.
The project is supported by an Equity in Verse grant from the Poetry Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding the presence of poetry in the United States.
The book launch will take place at the Guam Museum on Friday, December 13, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, featuring a poetry reading by Perez, interactive displays, and complimentary refreshments.
