Circus

These nearly 100 Haikus express the temperament and struggle of Ananda, who at age 11 suffered a brain stem stroke, leaving her paralyzed from the upper neck down. Now thirty years old, she has learned how to deal with her situation with humor and practicality. These poems touch on a wide variety of topics, including sexuality, health, medicine, politics, marijuana use, and technology. She has provided introductions to each section as well as illustrations she created with a joystick and a sip and puff controller manipulated by her mouth. Photography by Dark Chamber Photography.