The Fragile Humans We Are: Volume One

by V. Walker

Step into the delicate realms of emotion with The Fragile Humans We Volume One, a poignant collection of poetry that navigates the intricate landscapes of love, grief, and depression. This collection invites readers on a transformative journey through the highs and lows of the human experience.

In this beautifully crafted compilation, Walker delves into the complexities of love, loss, and being lost. The Fragile Humans We Are, Volume One is not merely a collection of poems. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, celebrating the capacity for healing that resides within us all.

This first edition features 13 original illustrations, beautifully crafted for The Fragile Humans We: Volume One.

Genres: Poetry

56 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2025

About the author

V. Walker is a poet and indie interactive fiction game developer whose work dives into the depths of the human experience. Exploring themes of grief, loss, love, and mental health, her writing seeks to connect and heal through raw and resonant storytelling. Her debut poetry collection, “The Fragile Humans We Are: Volume One,” is set to release on February 1, 2025, marking the start of an exciting literary journey.

When not writing, V. Walker indulges in her love for baking, reading, and immersive video games. With creativity as her cornerstone, she continues to weave art that sparks introspection and empathy. Follow V. Walker’s journey to discover stories that mirror the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

Reviews

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just been lying around reading poetry today. It’s all so lovely. Thank you people who share their thoughts with the world. You have such beautiful thoughts.

[Curiosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently, I've found myself enjoying poetry more and more. I was prompted to pick up this short poem collection from a post the author made on Threads. The title immediately caught my attention.

I enjoyed the gentle exploration of depression and grief. The poems were well written yet easy to understand. I would recommend this collection to anyone looking to dip their toes into poetry. I do with some of the poems had more substance to them. At times, I wanted the author to go into a deeper exploration of the themes. V. Walker's writing is effortlessly melodic and captivating. For a debut, The Fragile Humans We Are is a solid collection. I look forward to seeing how their writing evolves.

[Christiane_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read but don’t let that make you think the impact isn’t huge. This collection of poems is truly thought provoking The range of human emotions that fill these pages is incredible and I enjoyed reading each one! This can be devoured in a single sitting or spread out and savored.

[Isabella Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. just wow.

such fragile honest and soft vulnerability. i met V on Substack, and we’ve been sharing poems back and forth for about a month now. this collection is beautiful and gentle even as it explores some gnarly topics.

V has an incredible ability to describe such complex emotions with simplicity and honesty, and she absolutely bears her soul in her poems.

i found myself within these pages, in more ways than I an even express. i cannot wait to read more from V!!

“to the questions we ask and never get answered. to the daughters who hate seeing their mother in the mirror. to the sons who bear burdens beyond compare. to the children who never had a chance. and to you, my dear, the one who is still here.”

“remind yourself— this is life. you did what you could.”

“while i feared Death i forgot to live. or, perhaps, i feared to live. to be content. to know love. to partake in such humanity is to invite Death.”

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❛𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁. The Fragile Humans We Are: Volume One serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, celebrating the capacity for healing that resides within us all.❜

Despite being a short read Walker was able to produce various emotions out of me.

When I read this book it felt like something my middle school to high school aged self would be interested in, and maybe even write myself. I appreciate it even more as an adult.

Page numbers of my favorite poems: 9, 15, 17, 21, 23, 27, 31, 32, 33

[Jessica DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fragile Humans We Are is beautifully written. I'm so glad I got my hands and eyes on this piece of work. I can't wait to read more volumes and pieces that are yet to come. These poems are real, and make you feel less alone. This title couldn't have been better. Depression and grief is real, and the feelings we keep inside us are often ones other people are also feeling. But never forget, "they can never take your spirit"

[Ashley Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this small collection and could relate to so many of the poems. Walker has a way of putting a difficult life experience into a flow of words that doesn’t directly say what happened, but gives the reader a hint of what did. I could tell some of the poems were the grieving process woven together of the experience of growing up, losing a loved one to death, and losing one’s innocence. Through reading the poems, I have more compassion for the human race and all we must experience together, but separate. We are all here learning how to feel the same things, and I felt a sense of oneness while reading this collection.

Thank you to the one who gifted me this book, it is a star in my indie poetry library and I’ll be sure to pull it out when the moments are just right.

[Alden Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about poetry is that it moves you. You don’t have to even get up and you’re moved into a whole other state of mind or place. This book has multiple poems that did that to me. That’s so important to me in a collection of poetry. I loved reading through it. Fully recommend.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never received a physical book before, so this was already a special book to me. I used to read poetry daily and stopped for awhile, but so glad I saw this and felt like I needed to read it! Just a few of the poems that really got me were “She is Spirit”, “I Gave You My All”, and “How Death Steals Life.” I absolutely love this book and will definitely spend time rereading it over and over again!

[Jada West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been a poetry girl. Truly. It’s rare for me to pick up a poetry collection and lose myself in it, but I had to support my moon, and I am so deeply glad I did.

The Fragile Humans We Are: Volume I by @oxvictoriaxo didn’t just feel like reading poetry — it felt like being held through words. It felt like coming of age all over again, sitting with every ache, every softness, every lesson on love and longing and loss.

This book is for the people who have felt too much. For the people who stayed soft even when life hardened them. For the dreamers who look at the stars and wonder if they’ll ever feel like they belong.

There’s one poem that completely wrecked me — stardust. I don’t even know how to explain what this poem did to me. It’s the kind of piece you read once and know it will never leave you.

That ending line?
“What wouldn’t I give to feel the stars on my skin, while they obliterate me — while they make me whole. Again.”

It gutted me. It healed me. It reminded me of every version of myself I thought I lost. I sat with that line for so long. Annotated the page like it was sacred. Because it was.

This book isn’t just poetry. It’s the soft ache of growing up. It’s the coming-of-age lessons on love — the hard ones, the beautiful ones, the quiet ones you only realize long after the moment has passed.

I know I’ll come back to this book one day. Sit with each poem longer. Let them break me and build me again.

But for now? stardust has my whole heart.

Thank you for this, V. Thank you for writing for the fragile humans we are.

[Maddie Elam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although a short collection, this book of poetry really takes you on a journey. It highlights just how resilient we are, despite being “fragile” at our core. The art throughout is carefully chosen and really brings all the ideas represented to light. As someone who has experienced more than a few of the feelings or situations talked about in these poems, they really hit home.

I really truly enjoyed these, and look forward to reading whatever this author decides to write in the future. Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC ❤️

[Michael Finelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fragile Humans We Are offers a short, powerful journey through life’s complexities, haunting words dancing across paper with inked glory. Walker possesses a remarkable ability to articulate challenging life experiences through an expressive flow that subtly suggests the underlying events without explicitly stating them. Every pained and joyous, introspective poem is extremely relatable, especially the damaging effects that the familial bond can induce on a loving child’s mentality. The portion of this work concerning the death of a family member is gut-wrenching; grief, love, hatred, and regrets merging to fashion searing, poignant imagery that will resonate within one’s soul and cause deep contemplation.

If rousing poetry concerning life and love is of interest, definitely check out this most moving work!

Victoria, I wish you nothing but the greatest success in life!

[August Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection covers some very important and prominent themes that we all deal with at some point in life. Sometimes it can help to see these things expressed openly on the page. Things like mental health, learning to love, and navigating the world from childhood through young adulthood.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy poetry, this one is a must read.

[Athea Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

ebook
quick read
really made me think about things- great start for the year