California is For Adventurers: My Review and Analysis of “Yosemite of My Heart: Poems of Adventure in California”

After taking a long walk by the ocean, I drank a lavender latte while sitting outside a café in Santa Barbara, California. Sitting there, I noticed a misty haze rising over the Santa Ynez mountains, almost like a mirage created just for me. Even though the mountain range was captivating, I was more engrossed in reading a collection of poems on my Kindle.

The night before, I had received an advanced copy of Yosemite of My Heart: Poems of Adventure in California by Lalit Kumar. When I read the introduction quote by naturalist John Muir, I knew I had to take the text on my nature walks. Reading the poems, I connected with Kumar as he expressed his love for adventure and shared his favorite activities. His life and perspective reminded me of the Visit California commercials highlighting creativity and the great outdoors as the best things about living in the state.

I was also excited about this poetry collection because I have been reflecting on my journey to living in…