Again, I Cry by Shaylah Lathon-bey

This poetry collection focuses on all topics of what we can face and be affected by in life from love, loss, worth, self, consent, friendship and as the title says, can all induce tears from feeling so deeply. Some stand out poems to me are: Wounds Are Memories and My Sadness, were two poems about the weight of pain and wanting to feel ligher and free from it. The Girl With The Saddest Story, was a poem I really related to especially about self love first without looking for it from anywhere or anyone else. Not Rage, But Armor, was again a relatable poem about deflecting people from getting cloae to your sadness by anger to protect yourself and push them away, a coping mechanism I think many of us can relate to feeling to prevent breaking at times. Wrong Woman, was a really relatable poem about being the wrong person for someone and accepting that you are better apart than not loved truly. It was a beautiful collection of poems covering most aspects of issues we will or someone we know, will face in life.

The Butterfly Project by ANR

This collection of poetry draws on people's experiences with their mental health and the struggles of feelings and actions they've had to face too. Some stand out poems to me were: Silence, about feeling numb to life and open to the idea of death after feeling so deeply sad. Fourteen, was a harrowing poem of the side effects of bullying and self harm at the tender age of 14. Focussing on themes of sadness, depression, anxiety, friendship, abandonment, loneliness, self reflection and hate, it's a dark but open discussion collection of poetry to make you sit and reflect, or relate to and feel less alone in your own struggles, past or present.

Almost Winter, Almost Hope: Poetry about feeling alone by S. Avery

This poetry collection captures the beauty of dark and light in the seasons in particular, the winter and how Christmas can feel lonely and hopful at the same time in different way for different reasons. Some fantastic poems which stood out to me were: First Frost, about the world slowing down forcibly by the first bad weather stretching. Hollow songs, in particular how overplayed the same Christmas songs can be to leave you indifferent to them anymore. Three chairs, is a poem that hits deeply about the echo of loss at dinner especially so at Christmas. December Silence, about feeling everything, the weight of the unsaid lingering between family. Wish List, was a beautiful poem of the real gifts being feelings and are not easily brought gifts wrapped. Short Days, about the fragility of daylight in winter. Holiday Bruises, about how the holiday can linger and leave painful reminders of how the season has changed. It is a beautiful collection of poetry and makes you see the winter and festive season in a new light from different perspectives of hope, joy, grief, love and healing.

It’s never the time It’s the person: Poetry of True Love, Longing, and Heartbreak by Ikeli O'farrell

This was a beautiful collection of poetry about the love for another encapsulating all the feelings and thoughts from appreciating efforts and care, the natural feeling of belonging and even in loss, feelings continue after knowing love so truly. The final part about splitting up and the cause and effect description through the poems really played into the title, how it's character and not timing that makes relationships play out positive or negative. A well set out collection with depth.

Love Found In The Void by SaDee Hodge

This next poetry collection from SaDee details how relationship trauma and abuse can linger and scar but how reclaiming and freeing love can be after such a toxic relationship that hope can be found and trusting another can be possible despite the horrifying things you have been through. Another bold collection of poetry, brilliantly written and telling the next part of her real life story after facing such trauma.

Healing My Inner Child by Aelene Frank

This poetry collection explores the experience we can have growing up feeling we don't fit in or how it feels to exist in a toxic household when you feel you don't fit in to and struggles to feel you are good enough or deserving enough. The Family Photo, especially about faking being happy in photos hiding behind a smile to not let others see the pain you feel. The collection of poetry explores feelings of being unwanted or unaccepted as a child by growing up and growing through the pain showing how years of reflection can provide casting clarity how enjoying your own company, passions, desires and being your own best friend in life is so important when you lack some key aspects growing up in a life where people can really treat you unkindly. Raw, emotional and brutally honest, it will make you appreciate the good you have and cherish it even more so.

Shattered Pieces Of You by Nariah Fernandez

This is a great soul deep collection of poetry from a relationship which was tumultuous and heartbreaking in two ways to finding new love and doubting that from past feelings of mistrust too. Dear Love, was my favourite poem about doubting feeling you are in love and again from past experiences comparing which many of us can relate to that feeling. It was a really deep feeling collection around love and losing yourself in all the feelings it brings, especially for being a shorter collection it was packed with emotion still.

Things That Should've Stayed In My Notes App by Stacey Nicole Douglas

This was a great collection about loving and caring for someone despite them making bad choices and believing themselves to be worthless. Notes unsent, that tell the questioning truths of why someone cut you out of their life, how it hurt and they seem unaffected on the surface level while to you it cut deeply from caring about them so much. Living up to the title completely, it was a deeply moving collection, feeling the care, pain, hurt and still an undertone of hope at times running through the collection.

After Hours by Nura Bloom

This was a heartbreaking poetic story of an affair, a pregnancy and a life forever altered. A story of few words per poem, but still impactful in telling the story of a life altered forever by actions and the ripple effects into others lives. It was beautifully laid out with simple black text on floral background and set into five separate parts of the story showing the before, during, after, the pain and accepting the effects of the choices made and the actions it led to.

Sad Poetry For The Dejected by M.M. Crusinberry

This was a really deep collection with many relatable points of how sadness can creep in whether in solo living moments to daily battling depression feeling the heavy greyness unmoving in daily life. A particular poem, No 3, about seeing yourself in the mirror and not feeling connected to yourself and the view of yourself. The struggle to connect feeling like an actor trying but struggling through the motions of daily life. It also contained poems about the feeling of family exhile, The Black Sheep, was a poem I really related to about not feeling you fit in whether with your family or friends and the feeling of being easily forgettable or leavable which can be sad or lead you to find new friends who understand you so much better in the future. Everything can work out, I will say the sadness can be consuming, so can depression but in time you can find clarity, hope and life can move on to allow better experiences and moments ahead, this was a great collection to show the struggles sadness can have cause and effect in life.