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The Dying Years
Rooted in the concept of memento mori, The Dying Years explores the idea that every day between birth and death is part of our dying years. Rather than focusing on mortality as an ending, these poems frame it as a call to live more fully, more honestly, and more present in each moment.
Drawn from two decades of writing, this collection gathers selected poems shaped by love, loss, joy, and grief, each one a reflection of a life lived in motion.
The Dying Years invites readers to pause and ask: how are you living and experiencing the time you have been given, and are you living within your dying years?
Drawn from two decades of writing, this collection gathers selected poems shaped by love, loss, joy, and grief, each one a reflection of a life lived in motion.
The Dying Years invites readers to pause and ask: how are you living and experiencing the time you have been given, and are you living within your dying years?
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2026
About the author
Arthur Avalos
3 books58 followersArthur Avalos is a Chicago-based author whose work spans horror, thrillers, poetry, fantasy, and science fiction. His debut novel, Something Happened (2024), debuted with strong reviews and feedback, inspiring a sequel planned for 2027.
He has also published short fiction and continues to write stories that explore suspense, emotion, and human complexity across genres. His background as a therapist informs his focus on character depth and psychological tension.
Arthur is a lifelong reader with a large personal library and continues to build new work across horror, thriller, and speculative fiction.
He has also published short fiction and continues to write stories that explore suspense, emotion, and human complexity across genres. His background as a therapist informs his focus on character depth and psychological tension.
Arthur is a lifelong reader with a large personal library and continues to build new work across horror, thriller, and speculative fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 19, 2026
“The Dying Years” is the poetry debut from Arthur Avalos, and it tackles various themes of life, love, death, and everything in between. As the author says, we are all going to die—and what we choose to do, and who we choose to spend those years with, is what makes our time here matter.
This was such a wonderful collection of very diverse poems, collected over the span of around 20 years. You have horror themed poems, a few lyrically humorous ones, some micro poetry, some rhymed, and a few confessional ones. The strength comes from how raw and honest and different each poem is to the last.
I felt these poems. I related to some of them. And maybe more impotently, I learned from some of them as well. Like Arthur’s other work, this is just another wonderful addition to his growing work of art. And I cannot wait to see what he releases next. And while I did enjoy all this collection had to offer, some of his horror-centric poems were among my favorite. Check out: “The Bones Where Silence Whispers”.
Fans of his, or of poetry, should find much to like here. Recommended!
This was such a wonderful collection of very diverse poems, collected over the span of around 20 years. You have horror themed poems, a few lyrically humorous ones, some micro poetry, some rhymed, and a few confessional ones. The strength comes from how raw and honest and different each poem is to the last.
I felt these poems. I related to some of them. And maybe more impotently, I learned from some of them as well. Like Arthur’s other work, this is just another wonderful addition to his growing work of art. And I cannot wait to see what he releases next. And while I did enjoy all this collection had to offer, some of his horror-centric poems were among my favorite. Check out: “The Bones Where Silence Whispers”.
Fans of his, or of poetry, should find much to like here. Recommended!
July 19, 2026
The Dying Years may not be a long collection, but it took me much longer to read than I expected because I kept having to stop and collect myself. Arthur Avalos's words pulled at my heart in a way I wasn't prepared for.
This collection felt so close to how I feel, like someone had finally found the words for emotions I couldn't express myself. Raw, honest, and beautifully written. I'm not okay after finishing it, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
This collection felt so close to how I feel, like someone had finally found the words for emotions I couldn't express myself. Raw, honest, and beautifully written. I'm not okay after finishing it, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
July 29, 2026
Absolutely love Arthur's work so far. I've read everything he's published so far and have never been disappointed.
There are many ways to deal with death and mourning. I think an important way to grieve is to see that they are not alone in their experience. This piece of work can be used to help with really any stage of grief.
Arthur delicately placed these poems into three parts, based on what stage of grief he was in. Having these parts, I believe, makes the flow of this collection brilliant. It also helps the reader be able to pace themselves while reading this collection.
There's a transition with each part, just like when grieving, and you can feel this with each poem.
It's not rocket science to understand what the author was going through and feeling and I love that. This collection is highly relatable, raw, and real for anyone who has suffered a loss.
I'm so happy that Arthur released this work of poetry. I related to this collection so deeply. I hope to read more poetry by him in the future.
There are many ways to deal with death and mourning. I think an important way to grieve is to see that they are not alone in their experience. This piece of work can be used to help with really any stage of grief.
Arthur delicately placed these poems into three parts, based on what stage of grief he was in. Having these parts, I believe, makes the flow of this collection brilliant. It also helps the reader be able to pace themselves while reading this collection.
There's a transition with each part, just like when grieving, and you can feel this with each poem.
It's not rocket science to understand what the author was going through and feeling and I love that. This collection is highly relatable, raw, and real for anyone who has suffered a loss.
I'm so happy that Arthur released this work of poetry. I related to this collection so deeply. I hope to read more poetry by him in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
BLOWN AWAY ONCE AGAIN BY ARTHUR AND HIS WRITING!!!!
I am by no means a poetry reader. I was actually quite intimidated going Into this because I know how great Arthur’s writing is and I knew this collection would be intense.
The dying years took me on a journey. Some poems taught me things, some reminded me of things I already knew and experienced. The mix of emotions was a rollercoaster, I was sad, laughed, got spooked, cried( in the best way), and also smiled like crazy.
Great job Arthur! This was just another addition to your amazing list of stories you’ve written. I can’t wait to read even more as you write!
I am by no means a poetry reader. I was actually quite intimidated going Into this because I know how great Arthur’s writing is and I knew this collection would be intense.
The dying years took me on a journey. Some poems taught me things, some reminded me of things I already knew and experienced. The mix of emotions was a rollercoaster, I was sad, laughed, got spooked, cried( in the best way), and also smiled like crazy.
Great job Arthur! This was just another addition to your amazing list of stories you’ve written. I can’t wait to read even more as you write!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews