A Handful of Words

by Wyrd Lea

Author of Melodia returns with the sensual and surprising, A Handful of Words. From nature horrors to feminist connection with the cosmic divine, this collection playfully flitters through a cycle of love, death, and awe.

Genres: Poetry, Feminism

32 pages, ebook

Published September 24, 2025

About the author

My writing leans to weird, haunting, grotesque, and surrealist, and gothic, influenced by childhood trauma, ecology, and a neurodivergent mindscape. In the same vein as Laurie Halse Anderson, Ocean Vuong, Franny Choi, and Katherine Dunn, I’m passionate about poetry featuring narratives based upon regaining voice, autonomy, familial trauma and history, both autobiographical and drawn from modern tales and mythology.

Reviews

[Bethany Tap]

This gorgeous book of art and poems deals with the topic of generational trauma, hope, survival, and resilience in a uniquely visual, visceral way. I loved the way the art and poetry spoke to each other, particularly in my favorite poem from this collection, “Hereditary.”

This book is a fast read, but it’s the kind of collection you can read over and over, finding new meaning and beauty.

I’m looking forward to re-reading it!

[Anshika]

A handful of words is more than just a handful of words. It is like a handful of ocean water, full of life and the possibility of more life.

If generational trauma had an empathetic "how-to" with it, it would be this book.

And on the same note, it is so much more than just a catalogue of my life long trauma. It is rare to see the complexity of being human mirrored in a book/ anthology so well, this one has shocked me. Disturbed my heart and mind in the best of self.

I came in to the book with a lot of anxiety, and honestly? It feels less like the end of the world after reading this.

The visuals are blinding and the words are like a delicate knife, carving their imprints on my heart.

A true bunch of poems in the sense of what Emily Dickinson meant when she said "poems".

So grateful for the ARC. Thanks for quelling my anxiety for the time being.

Much love.

[Madeline W]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of their eARC! I truly consider myself fortunate to have served as an early reader for both of their collections thus far.

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but this cover was so striking that I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Indeed, as I came to expect from reading Melodia - Lea's first collection - the mixed media contained therein has much to offer for the curious reader/viewer. Many of the pieces feature rich imagery and pertinent themes, some of which even allude to mythology or other texts. Additionally, the collages and photography are just gorgeous; it is hard to tear your eyes away from the pages. Even in the spaces without words, there is often a small detail of coloring or illustration that enhances that overall literary consumption experience.

As far as critiques are concerned, there were a few times where I found it somewhat difficult to follow the proper order of words when they were displayed in the collage format. This might have been done intentionally, though, because I know there is a layer of experimentation throughout the entire collection. Additionally, as with most poetry collections, I simply wish there was more for me to consume. I think the further expansion of some of these themes and images would be awesome. That being said, there are always other collections to be made in the future, and I can continue to read what already exists.

Bravo to you, Wyrd, on another collection! I look forward to continuing to keep up with your projects and general advocacy. As you mention amongst the final pages of this text, free Palestine, love is love, F AI, and all those other vital sentiments we need in the world.

[Faith L]

A HANDFUL OF WORDS by Wyrd Lea is a delight. In just two lines of the poem, "Flower Girl," the gravity of society's expectations weighs upon the reader.

When I think about this poem, I think of harm committed against women and femme presenting people, and how society is quick to erase their voices for not meeting their demands and expectations. The fact that there's a huge flower covering a certain part of the individual's body, in my opinion, shows how women and femme presenting people are often seen not as human beings, but as objects. The meaning of the poem contrasts with the bright images, and that matches with how people in many patriarchal communities/societies expect women and femme presenting people to "smile" and "be feminine," when actually these expectations objectify them. When reading this poem, I think of the risks women and femme presenting people face if they do not meet men's expectations.

I liked the photographs and how they are positioned on the page. "Celestial Goddess" has a pretty arrangement, from the various design elements and images and the text display.

"Gentle Birth" is a healing poem! It has cute and vivid images and it's ocean-themed. I love the jellyfish and corals.

"lament of lilacs" has lovely colours and a font that matches the tone of the poem.

"hereditary" is my favourite poem because I like the figurative language in the repeating lines. I was engrossed in the description and the theme of having a feature passed down from one's ancestors, and how the narrator seems to feel different about these features than their ancestors.

I enjoyed this poetry collection and the images very much. If you read poetry or like collages, designing images, and whimsical things, I recommend A HANDFUL OF WORDS.

Thank you to Wyrd Lea for the eARC!

[K.V. Wilson]

This is the second poetry collection by Wyrd Lea I've read. The other one, Melodia, was dark and eerie (perfect autumn/spooky read). This one contrasted nicely by being lighthearted and inspiring. Each poem had scrapbook-like imagery of landscapes, seascapes, skyscapes, and plantlife to go with it.

My favourite lines were: "Hope: a lighthouse lassoing lost souls in the cosmos", "unfurling kaleidoscope wings, leap to the next plane of astrological transcendence: an aurora borealis of possibilities framed in cerulean fantasy", and "brushing your feet against clouds of foam into a realm of boundlessness, where darkness is chaos and chaos is the tapestry of creation."

[Amanda]

Wyrd just may make a poetry reader of me yet. The juxtaposition of images, collages, and words actually makes me stop and think and absorb in a way that I haven't truly felt in other poetry. It's opening me up to exploring more and expanding the poetry I read. It really is just a "handful of words" but it evokes so much more.

[Tinamarie Cox]

I absolutely loved the words and collages! This is the most unique and beautiful little book I have read in a long time! I found it interesting and inspiring. As an artist/writer/poet myself, this book goes on my favorite shelf and recommends. It is strange and beautiful, honest and emotional, and so much more. If you're looking for something different in the best way, pick this one!

[Maureen McSherry]

This selection of poems by Wyrd Lea comes donned in whimsy and nostalgia while diving deep into themes of grief, generational trauma and self-discovery. Not only is the layout of each poem gorgeous, but each poem felt like a confession of a wiser person looking back at a painful past. 5⭐

[Cypher .]

Wyrd has such a fun approach to language, and this collection was a splendid read (plus the graphic design work is GORGEOUS). Having read both of their published words up until this point (Melodia and now this one), I think Wyrd is very imaginative and I’m excited to see what they do next.

[IV]

✨ ARC review ✨

"Mushrooms do not abide by capitalist expectations."
— Wyrd Lea, 'Mushroom Motivation'

"A Handful of Words" by Wyrd Lea was a great, quick read! The experimental found poetry vibes and vibrantly colorful page designs (SO pretty!!) made this little collection feel fresh and fun while Wyrd's unique style and choice of topics continues to be thought-provoking and interesting.

I particularly loved Flower Girl, Celestial Goddess, and Mushroom Motivation.

I highly recommend this collection if you’re looking for a quick poetry read and enjoy unusual works!

Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC, it was truly a pleasure. 🖤✨️