Bellyache: Poems for Sensitive Souls

by Brianna M. Pastor

From the author of Good Grief, an intimate collection of poems and prose which offers a glimpse into the mind of a highly sensitive person, or empath.

In a world that has become increasingly difficult to navigate—physically, mentally, and spiritually—having empathy is more important than ever. But what if you have a highly sensitive mind? Highly sensitive people, known as empaths, have an expanded capacity to feel not only one set of emotions but also those of others. They experience life more deeply than the average person, leaving them more susceptible to nervous system dysregulation, emotional trauma, and abuse.

Divided into three parts—Body, Mind, and Soul—Brianna Pastor’s intimate collection of poems invites us to explore what it’s like to discover high sensitivity in adulthood and view life through an empathetic lens. Hopefully, by deepening our understanding of sensitivity and how it affects others, we can move one step closer to a more connected, healed world.

I have a bellyache

from constantly absorbing

all this pain.



I’d ask you to refrain from telling me,

but your eyes already have.

Genres: Poetry

Audible Audio

Published February 24, 2026

Reviews

[Ravi Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna Pastor is one of my favorite modern poets, and I’ve been captivated by her work for a few years now.

Beautiful, accessible, and soothing, her poetry deepens our grasp of sensitivity, guiding us toward a more connected, healed world.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this slim collection of poems about living in the world as a highly sensitive person. Relatable and told in three parts about how the author's anxiety and empathy affect her bodily. Great on audio too read by the author herself. A great read for both National Poetry Month and Autism Awareness Month. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a goodreads giveaway, merci Harper Collins. Although I found the description a bit pretentious I ended up quite enjoying it and plan on using a few excerpts in my yoga class. It was readable and a good mix of embodied and abstract.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divided into parts- Body, Mind and Soul- the Mind section had me in tears and bookmarking every other page- who is surprised though? I thoroughly enjoyed reading this in a single sitting over a mug of coffee in a local shop as poetry month comes to an end.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for the poems I loved, 4 stars overall.

“Compassion goes
both ways. I give you mine
but I always have to ask
for yours. I want to be
human enough for you.
I want the grace of
taking off my mask
and falling short.”

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author took the worlds out my soul and wrote them on hard pages. SO relatable and sometimes tearful. ( in a good way!) I resonated so much, I felt so not alone in this harsh world.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for sending this book to me. This author centers her poetry around mental health & trauma & what it means to heal with sensitivity.