she was not birthed; she was forged. she climbed the tower of her shattered remnants and piece by piece, she reinvented. society taught her to think in black and white; the universe taught her to dream in color. she doesn’t need air; she needs to want to breathe. and this is her placing her soul in your hands. this is her realizing she may be a single tree in this world of wilderness, but she is mighty green indeed.
this is inkwells.
wipe your feet off at the door.
she was not birthed; she was forged. she climbed the tower of her shattered remnants and piece by piece, she reinvented. society taught her to think in black and white; the universe taught her to dream in color. she doesn’t need air; she needs to want to breathe. and this is her placing her soul in your hands. this is her realizing she may be a single tree in this world of wilderness, but she is mighty green indeed.
this is inkwells.
wipe your feet off at the door.
inkwells.
a poetry collection
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a message from the author
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inkwells. is the product of the worst mental health relapse of my life thus far, which was caused by the fact that I’d been doing extraordinarily well in ignoring and neglecting my symptoms when my body and mind were clearly warring, and I opted to remain the nonchalant referee.
For people both battling and not battling with mental health disorders of any degree, there is specific subject matter and blunt language used at frequent intervals throughout the work which may appear disturbing, as the collective and comprehensive themes of inkwells. are mental health, self-harm and thoughts of suicide. This message will be the only trigger warning incorporated so as to not wrongfully gauge which poems may or may not be triggering according to an individual reader, and to not disrupt the flow of the work. I urge any and all readers to confront any negative feelings which may, understandably, be triggered due to the dark themes, and discontinue reading this work should the subject matter become too impactful.
inkwells. is my chronicling of the authentic and realistic notions which I created as a sort of self-medication to abstain from the self-destructive urges I was experiencing. Under no circumstances should any reader compromise their mental health to analyze or endure mine.
I wish you all the best during your mental health journey, and I remind you confidently and honestly that recovery is possible. Please stick around to see it.
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Be safe and well,
Margaret Beaver
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Contents
a message from the author 7
Sad boy. 10
bridges 12
burning. 19
Fine Line. 22
fishbowl 27
Girl of Thunder 29
home. 33
I am an arborist 37
I Dare Me. 42
Just a Little More Me. 47
Love is to Burn. 53
poets dream.. 56
Questions & Regrets 60
Wallflower 63
orchid. 67
half girl 73
There Will Be Peace. 77
me & my ghost 83
childhood revival 86
Die in dignity. 92
landing. 96
sad // healed. 101
reminders 106
The visionary. 109
looking glass 113
it doesn’t have to make sense. 118
my crown is made of warning signs 123
Avenue. 129
I love you. 133
we are infinite. 138
Sister Feline. 144
chameleon. 148
On the bayou. 156
Know our names 161
Parental Guidance. 165
meg. 171
inkwells 175
Mom (bonus piece) 180
feeling suicidal?. 184
Warning: Readers have to be aware that this book contains possible triggers around mental health, self-harm and thoughts of suicide. It is not specified before each poem what can be triggering (a trigger warning is present at the beginning of the book) so it is the reader’s responsibility to know whether they should dive into this book.Â
inkwells. is a beautiful collection of poems about depression, loneliness and guilt, but also healing and learning to love oneself. Most poems are written in the first person, offering a very intimate point of view on those subjects. Some poems are stories that unfold while we read— my favourite poems in the collection fall into this category— and others are collections of thoughts, advice to the persona’s younger or future self, hopes and regrets.
This collection of poems is extremely touching— because of the themes it explores, of course, but also thanks to the poet’s skilful writing. Margaret Beaver describes sorrow with preciseness, and the metaphors, particularly, are top-notch. The use of strong imagery and solid comparisons are what make the text so poignant.
Some features that readers will encounter often in this collection are rhymes and repetitions: if you’re not a fan of those devices, some lines may sound too blunt. Keep in mind that the poems are written in free verse nonetheless. Margaret Beaver’s poetry can also sound effortless while being extremely ingenious, and some lines are truly breathtaking.Â
Few poems are extremely intimate and have a less universal reach, which makes it harder to dive completely into the text, but the writing remains beautiful nonetheless.
inkwells. is a book addressed to people struggling with self-destructive thoughts as well as people willing to understand those who are struggling. Sometimes distressing, sometimes comforting, it is a book that is optimistic despite it all. It is, above all, the poet’s vulnerability that makes the collection so powerful. It is definitely a book worth reading (3/5).