Pressing Matters

Pressing Matters is a visceral exploration of memory, struggle, and the lasting imprint of the past. Through layered sensory details—smoke, ink, and the hum of the printing press—the poem contrasts the grind of past hardships with the echoes they leave behind. As the narrator reflects on their journey from survival to stability, the Chicago Times looms like a ghost of the past, a reminder of what was lost and gained. Haunting and reflective, this poem captures the weight of nostalgia, ambition, and the unshakable ties between labor and identity.