In 2019 | took on writing my own poetry book for therapeutic use that not only contained words, but pieces of my identity.

Through poetry, I found a way to confront my pain and embrace my past, to turn the shadows of my life into a beacon of expression and understanding.

It was a cathartic process, transforming the chaos within me into something tangible and beautiful, even if it was born from darkness.

As I wrote, all 111 pages, I peeled back layers of my past, my emotions, people, and my experiences with them, revealing faces I had worn but no longer recognized.

Once I completed the book in 2021, I left it to rest in my window with no intention of anyone ever reading the words I wrote on those pages and never opening it again.

I watched it sit closed and unread until 2023; I decided to combine my skills and hobbies to somehow take pride in my flaws and yet showcase my abilities. Not only am I a photographer, I have also always found solace in hands on crafts.
I spent 49 hours making 5 separate masks.

That represented some of the intense emotions I felt in the moments I had written about. These poems are my masks, intricately crafted to represent the fragments of the person I used to be.

To those still trying to figure out who they are, know this: it's okay to wear masks while you search for your true face.

But eventually you must Embrace your darkest moments, for they are the crucible that forges your strength.

Write, create, preform, and let your voice be heard. As you may not know just how much your soul needs to be felt, to be loved, to be understood.

In your art, you will find fragments of yourself, and piece by piece, you will build the person you are meant to be.