Outskirts Press, INC.

The poetry collection, The Graveyard of My Mind, explores deep themes of love, pain, self-discovery, and emotional healing. I wrote these poems to reflect on a tumultuous, often destructive relationship, in order to help navigate the complexities of loving someone unconditionally, even at the cost of personal destruction. I tried to convey my sense of raw vulnerability, and to capture the emotional highs and lows, the internal conflicts, and the enduring scars left behind by the love I experienced. Each poem delves into different aspects of various encounters, from the intensity of love and its capacity to both uplift and devastate, to the aftermath of heartbreak. Themes like selflessness, sacrifice, regret, and the desire for emotional release permeate the verses. I also grapple with the paradox of loving deeply while recognizing the toxicity of the multiple relationships in my life. Furthermore, most of the poems are filled with imagery of darkness, pain, and longing, yet they also hint at resilience and growth through the suffering. The collection is both a cathartic expression of pain and a testament to my journey toward self-awareness and healing. As I reflect on how love and trauma has shaped and, at times, fractured my identity, while also confronting the difficulty of letting go. Ultimately, The Graveyard of My Mind, is a poignant exploration of emotional complexity, the consequences of love, and the bittersweet nature of both its presence and absence.