Tuesday, June 30 at 6:00 PM

Chaucer’s Books Presents an Evening of Poetry with Swamini B., I’m Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing

I’m Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing is a poetry collection centered on healing, resilience, and the journey back to wholeness.

Rooted in lived experience, Swamini B. writes about what it means to face the past without being defined by it. Through poetry, she separates what happened from who she is, reclaiming identity with clarity and dignity.

Divided into three sections — Turmoil, Insights, and Freedom — the collection follows a progression from silence toward self-acceptance. The poems bear witness to grief, anger, shame, and trust, while honoring the gradual rebuilding of inner safety.

I’m Not My Story does not turn away from the past. It meets it directly — and moves beyond it.

Written for survivors, allies, and those seeking language for healing, the work affirms the possibility of renewal and a life not defined by the past.

About the Poet

Swamini B. is a poet, survivor, and contemporary monk. Through poetry, she found a part of herself that remained untouched despite everything she had endured. It gave her a place to speak her truth.

She is the author of I’m Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing, a collection written with unflinching honesty and spiritual depth that speaks to survivors, allies, and those seeking language for inner transformation.

Based in Santa Barbara, she is beginning to share her work publicly, creating space for reflection and honest conversation.

Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State Street, Santa Barbara