It's national poetry month and Michigan has no shortage of creative writers with stories to tell. Today on the pod, we'll hear from a West Michigan high schooler and refugee from Myanmar, who recently won the Gold Key Award for poetry. Thang Lian talks leaving home and where he feels his work belongs, as Asians and Asian Americans are targeted in the US and abroad. GUESTS: Thang Lian, senior at East Kentwood high school, recipient of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers’ Gold Key Award for poetry. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.