In a profound act of vulnerability and poetic storytelling, 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' unravels a deeply personal narrative through a series of letters from a son named Little Dog to his illiterate mother. The letters traverse memories and histories, bridging the familial experiences that began in the landscape of Vietnam with the complexities of their immigrant life in America. Little Dog's prose reveals the imprints of war, the nuances of race, class, and masculinity, and the silent struggles that often remain unspoken. It is a journey of identity, love, and the transformative power of story—a testament to the beauty that blooms in the midst of hardship.