While We're Here

by Leeza Jayde, Philipp Frohnapfel (Illustrations)

In her moving debut poetry collection, Leeza Jayde bravely examines and reflects on the most important relationship in our lives- the one we have with ourselves. This beautifully tender, vulnerable, and deeply intimate collection will speak to the hardest parts of yourself, and yet will still leave you inspired, filled with humbling wisdom, and wrapped in self-love.

Separated into three chapters, While We're Here's sections each deal with different kinds of lessons in heartache, pain and love, the raw reality behind poor mental health, inner transformation through struggles and hard truths, and the gentle magic of hope and human kindness.Alluring line art illustrations by admired instagram artist Philipp Frohnapfel also accompany Leeza Jayde's poetry and visually aids in guiding you through the book's journey. An honest journey of what it means to live while we're alive.

Genres: Poetry

210 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2021

About the author

Leeza Jayde is an Australian poet, teacher, and mental health advocate whose work is inspired by the quiet magic of everyday life and the depth of the human experience. With honesty, vulnerability, and compassion, her poetry explores themes of healing, love, loss, grief, and existentialism, written with the hope that her words might help others feel understood and comforted.

When she isn’t lost between the pages of a paperback, Leeza shares her words with a growing community on Instagram at @leezajaydepoetry.

Reviews

[Sarai Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeza has a real talent to touch someone’s heart just by using a few words. Her emotional insight and ability to write about it is tremendously touching. Truly recommend this book!

[Aisha Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The way she tells a story with just a few words was inspiring, beautiful and so creative. Leeza did a great job and if you love poetry, and love having a good time reading definitely recommend this to you then! The way she worded some of her many beautiful poems touched me and made me feel so many different emotions. Definity recommends if you haven't already read this. Enjoy! Because I know I did!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently experienced a huge loss in my life, this book came along at a time I needed it most. I know with Leeza’s words, I can turn to any page and find a piece of myself, in the words I can find understanding, healing and hope, even when they are in the most painful ways. I open the book more times each day than I would like to admit, when I need to ground my emotions and she does this so beautifully, weaving with her own vulnerability, a sense of power and the ability to rise above whatever it is you are going through. A powerful, brilliant read from cover to cover. Genuinely the best book I have purchased in my lifetime. And something I will always hold close to me

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

Such a beautiful compilation of words that hit home to me. I feel like the writer can see inside souls the way she writes so informative. Beauty weaved into poetry. Almost perfect 😚

[mike f. · Rating 4 out of 5]

i genuinely devoured the collection. it's like if r.h. sin and r.c. perez had a baby and combined their writing styles to create this collection. take that as you will

[kamryn ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

soso good omg 😳

[Randina Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeza has a way of taking pain and spinning it into precious gold. Every line left me breathless and eager to traverse more of her story with her. Her words drew trust and belief as she truly writes to not only heal herself, but others. Her writing is truly unique and indescribably beautiful. If you’re looking for encouragement, understanding, strength and gentle but powerful truth, look no further.

[jez · Rating 4 out of 5]

some poems are striking; they're beautifully written and felt. relatable. a few favorites of mine are:

"my journey has taught me
to be gentle
with everyone i meet.

you never know
who has bones,
or who has glass,
sitting quietly
beneath their skin."

— wineglass skeletons

"do not mourn those not dead;
feel their absence,
but do not walk with ghosts.

do not drown in
that warm liqueur of memories,
as tempting as it is."

— let the present sober you

"i'm too hard on myself.

i blame myself when all my little pieces
don't fit into puzzles with pretty pictures.

because it's painful
to have spent so much time,
invested so much heart,
only to lose it.
and i get caught up
in temporary things like heartache
that i forget how i gained something
much more valuable.

memories.
lessons learned.
imprints.

evidence
that i was not afraid to live
while i was alive.
proof
that i was here and i was brave and i tried.
that i was here.

and i can't blame myself for that."

— i regret nothing

"hearts are like paper,
aren't they?

time has folded each of us
into different sculptures.

the older we get,
the more we crease.
and i think that's magical."

— origami hearts

(also: how the sea mentored me, be, my mother, you were mistaken, without meaning to)

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gifted it to me to help me with my grief about a year and a half ago. Poetry isn’t always my style, but this was different. No matter what the messages say (which at this point, I don’t fully recall), the book itself was a comfort to me, and that was enough.

[Emma Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really opened my eyes to appreciate everything and every moment. A beautiful collection of poems about living life to the fullest and treating yourself and others with love and kindness.

[Kris]

Beautiful and comforting prose that made me feel a little better. Go read this!!

[Hend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book stole my heart and I know I’ll reread it many times.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeza's novel captures what is it is to be human. The heart breaks, love, lost, anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. She was able to speak through her poems, from the long to the short poems. It was lovely to read words that encapsulated how I have felt.

I would highly recommend picking it up.

May I add that each page and new poem felt like luxury, I have never noticed the type of paper of a book before, but it is such high quality that I couldn't not notice.

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 88 - 88/100 - paperback - finished: 28th August, 2022

While We’re Here by Leeza Jayde von Alpen
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

This is a collection of poetry and prose all revolving around our relationship we have with ourselves. There was some beautiful writing in this and I really enjoyed it. I came away with a lot of poems that I really loved.

This felt very similar to the style that Rupi Kaur uses.

[Margh Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

W book

[Stephii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Another beautifully written poetry book that I have found on the kindle. So inspiring, and so worth the read!! Thanks.

[KT · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just didn't do ANYTHING for me 😭 although it was well written, it just didn't leave me feeling anyway at all :/