Peaced Together, by Kris Corbett

Poetry, chapbook, 24 pages, from Bottlecap Features. After overcoming a traumatic medical condition, Kris Corbett had to travel back in time to understand the present and regain her identity. Writing poetry helped Kris gain insight as to why her life unfolded as it had. Peaced Together is a collection of these self-reflections. Individually, 25 poems are reminders of the experiences that shaped her. Collectively, they allowed her to heal and become whole. Facing the loss of loved ones, including the death of her father, at a young age cemented her in a world of sorrow. Writing and playing basketball seemed to be the only two methods of escape, at least temporarily. Eventually, the pain and suffering of others soon became her own. Kris presents the journey of picking up the pieces of her life by describing the impact of war, suicide, loss, illness, and despair. She balances these heavier topics with nostalgic descriptions of childhood memories, places she has lived, her own children, her love for the game of basketball, and unwavering perseverance in the darkest of times. Kris Corbett was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and currently lives in Maryland. She is a registered nurse, U.S. federal civil servant, mother of four, basketball coach, and writer.  Kris has been published in scientific journals, has written public health policy, and recently completed a memoir about her challenging recovery from a life-altering medical condition. This is her first poetry collection.