Small daily rituals, love and grief sit side by side in these poems. Allie Michelle's Don't Wait to Light the Candles asks readers to slow down and notice what is already in front of them.
Readical Key Points
A collection of poems on love, grief, mindfulness and the strength in staying soft
By spoken word poet Allie Michelle, author of The Rose That Blooms in the Night
Content note: grief and loss
Hardcover from Park Row, 2026; 256 pages
Michelle writes against a culture of productivity and perfection, turning instead to small, sacred moments and the practice of paying attention to them. The collection moves between celebration and pain, holding grief alongside joy, and treats gentleness as a form of strength rather than a lack of it. Throughout, the poems speak in a voice that is by turns forceful and gentle, and they keep returning to presence as something chosen.
It suits readers of contemporary poetry about mindfulness and healing, and anyone who reads a few poems at a time rather than straight through. The title makes the book's case in six words: live now, without waiting for a better occasion.
About the Author
Allie Michelle writes poetry and fantasy novels and has performed her poems around the world. Her earlier books include The Rose That Blooms in the Night.
Condition: Brand New and Readical Ready.
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