afterthoughts (anniversary edition) is the expanded version of afterthoughts containing previously cut poems from the original. afterthoughts is a quiet corner where reflections gather, a space where the dust settles after a storm, allowing the first glimmers of new light to shine through. Think of it as a whispered diary, carefully unfolding the intricate journey from past goodbyes to the tender, sometimes uncertain, steps of beginning again. It's the silent, hopeful processing of everything that comes after.
more afterthoughts to unpack
afterthoughts is my second poetry collection, a quiet reflection in ten verses, unveiled on July 7, 2024. If Lines Unbent was about the brave act of letting go, the bittersweet goodbye, then afterthoughts is the hushed dawn that follows. It's the story of starting new, not with a bang, but with the subtle shift of light when you realize you're finally ready to face what's next. These poems meticulously trace the narrative of a single person, capturing the intimate unfolding of a fresh chapter.
This collection truly feels like a "starrise before starrise"—those moments when the world is still dark, but you can feel the first glimmer of light on the horizon, promising something beautiful and unknown. It's about finding clarity in the quiet aftermath, piecing together the broken bits, and discovering the courage to step forward, one hesitant, hopeful word at a time. It's the internal monologue of growth, whispered onto the page.
We offered a glimpse of afterthoughts with three poems released ahead of time: "first" (June 9, 2023), "the journey I won't miss" (June 16, 2023), and "all my ghosts" (June 24, 2023). The full collection found its moment on the same day Taylor Swift's Speak Now (Taylor's Version) emerged, which felt like a cosmic wink. And as an extra layer to its tender heart, the collection includes an accompanying poem, "forced connection," exploring those unexpected ties that linger and shape us.
The midnight simply tells a lot about you. The tick of the clock shows another side of you specific only to the positions of its three hands. And it's with that multiplication of you that creates a lot of afterthoughts on waht happened and how endings aren't really the real ends. And so here is afterthoughts (anniversary edition) which shows you more of that post-midnight revelations and ruminations to which, before releasing this, my ceilings and me have only read.
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