The Exodus. Poetry by Kennia Lopez. Paperback. 180 pages. July 12th, 2022. ISBN 9781948800581.

The Exodus is an epic told in verse which travels across the page as an experiment in the migration of languages (Spanish, Spanglish, English, and AAVE) as well as people. Its protagonist is my mother, Petra, and its main narrative is about her eight failed attempts to immigrate to the United States and her ninth successful try. Though Petra is the main character of this fabulist poetic experience, her voice is a cacophony of many other voices who also crossed, will cross, or died crossing the US Mexican border. The Exodus is a response and a call to action as well as a signpost acting as a tumblehome, reminding us all, especially the child of immigrant parents, what it means to belong.