First published 2011
Katie works as a special-needs teacher, navigating the daily frustrations of a job that offers little recognition. Her marriage falls apart in messy, painful ways that leave emotional wreckage in their wake. She carries anger that refuses to settle and hurt that stays fresh. The poems capture her experiences without softening their edges or making them prettier than they were. Katie faces her battles head-on, including a bold confrontation at a lap-dancing club that becomes an act of personal defiance. These are not stories of healing or redemption. They are snapshots of a woman living through rupture and trauma, refusing to pretend the wounds have closed. The rawness remains intact, the anger burns bright, and the pain continues to ache.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, poetry
Vibes: emotional, intimate, raw, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, emotional-journey, slice-of-life
113 pages · Paperback · Salmon Poetry
Content warnings: abuse, emotional-abuse