Queensbury High School English teacher Lucyna Prostko has published a book titled, “House of Wandering,” a collection of poems about the idea of home and the way it shifts throughout our lifetime. The book is also about the power of storytelling, memory, immigrant identity and loss.
Published by Finishing Line Press, “House of Wandering” is the second published book of poetry for Prostko, who has been teaching English and creative writing for more than 20 years.
“When I was working on my first book of poems, there were two poems that focused distinctly on the motif of home as well as the small tight-knit community in the Northeastern Poland where I grew up,” Prostko said. “These two poems planted the seed for my second poetry collection where I bring up my own childhood memories along with the stories of my family ancestors and people I have met along the way whose lives and voices I wanted to include.”
The book is available for $22.99 on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble and through Finishing Line Press. It will also be available for purchase at Northshire Bookstore after Oct. 22.
At Queensbury, Prostko teaches poetry in all of her courses as a way to complement the themes expressed in other texts, such as novels and nonfiction works.
“I aim to expose my students to various forms and styles of poetry as well as to prominent contemporary American poets,” she said. “Poetry has always been my passion, and I try to pass it on to my students.”
Prostko was born in Poland and came to New York City at age 19. She received her M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University — where she was awarded the New York Times Fellowship — and her Ph.D. in English from the University at Albany. Her first collection of poems, “Infinite Beginnings,” won the Bright Hill Press poetry book competition.