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From Ashen to Ablaze: A Poetry Collection
Decidedly dubious
Fearfully forlorn
Adrift in a callous world
Nowhere to belong
To Ablaze
Undauntingly determined
Unfalteringly steadfast
She had made her place in the world
Standing up for herself, at last
From Ashen to Ablaze is a toast to the courage displayed by all those who are constantly trying to rise up from their state of ‘ashen’ and transform into ‘ablaze’; to their perseverance, their flickering hopes, and to their unique journeys towards healing-— meaning to make them cry when they need to, smile when they want to, and be an empowering and comforting friend when the times demand.
These poems will speak to everyone who has felt pain grief, fear, hopelessness, insecurity, loneliness, and loss. As well as to those who mean to, or are already striving towards a ‘better’ life by trying to be the ‘best’ and healthiest version of themselves every day.
The first part of the book, ‘Ashen’ , embodies defeat and hopelessness, empathizes with, and honours the struggles and emotions of those (once) in a dark and desperate place in life. It means to acknowledge their feelings as real and valid and serve as a reminder that they’re not alone. The second part of the book, ‘to‘, highlights what just a mere transition in one's mindset can help achieve. The final part of the book, Ablaze ’ is the contrasting half which portrays an alternative way of thinking and hence being. It celebrates the human spirit, it’s triumph over trauma, and its extraordinary capacity for survival and healing. It means to motivate and empower on a journey of growth toward acceptance, gratitude, peace, and the often underestimated and taken for granted, plain ol’ being okay. This work is a hearty cry before those resilient smiles. It is the thawing of those lonely spaces and the extending of a hand towards those creating fire and light from their own warmth when there is none around. It is a story of many a heart untold and unacknowledged, now ready to be seen. It is the culmination of the wisdom and emotions gathered along the way, a prayer, and a sincere hope to reach out and help all those who need to hear these words to not give up on themselves and their paths towards healing.
Fearfully forlorn
Adrift in a callous world
Nowhere to belong
To Ablaze
Undauntingly determined
Unfalteringly steadfast
She had made her place in the world
Standing up for herself, at last
From Ashen to Ablaze is a toast to the courage displayed by all those who are constantly trying to rise up from their state of ‘ashen’ and transform into ‘ablaze’; to their perseverance, their flickering hopes, and to their unique journeys towards healing-— meaning to make them cry when they need to, smile when they want to, and be an empowering and comforting friend when the times demand.
These poems will speak to everyone who has felt pain grief, fear, hopelessness, insecurity, loneliness, and loss. As well as to those who mean to, or are already striving towards a ‘better’ life by trying to be the ‘best’ and healthiest version of themselves every day.
The first part of the book, ‘Ashen’ , embodies defeat and hopelessness, empathizes with, and honours the struggles and emotions of those (once) in a dark and desperate place in life. It means to acknowledge their feelings as real and valid and serve as a reminder that they’re not alone. The second part of the book, ‘to‘, highlights what just a mere transition in one's mindset can help achieve. The final part of the book, Ablaze ’ is the contrasting half which portrays an alternative way of thinking and hence being. It celebrates the human spirit, it’s triumph over trauma, and its extraordinary capacity for survival and healing. It means to motivate and empower on a journey of growth toward acceptance, gratitude, peace, and the often underestimated and taken for granted, plain ol’ being okay. This work is a hearty cry before those resilient smiles. It is the thawing of those lonely spaces and the extending of a hand towards those creating fire and light from their own warmth when there is none around. It is a story of many a heart untold and unacknowledged, now ready to be seen. It is the culmination of the wisdom and emotions gathered along the way, a prayer, and a sincere hope to reach out and help all those who need to hear these words to not give up on themselves and their paths towards healing.
167 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2022
4 people want to read
About the author
Sharmeen Farooq
5 books7 followersIn the next few lines, Sharmeen Farooq is going to pretend it's not awkward at all talking about herself in the third person. Sharmeen is a Canadian High School teacher with a certificate in Creative Writing. Currently, she lives with her husband and three-year old son in Germany and is glad to be over the cultural shock. In her free time, if she gets any, she likes to read, write, travel, paint, do arts and craft, and feed her obsession with Korean shows. Sharmeen loves to write because it allows her to let go of the past, be completely herself, and live out her fantasies.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 2, 2022
This was such a beautifully written debut poetry collection. I am absolutely floored!!!!
There was so much confusion and hurt I could feel spinning off the pages in the beginning but you grow steadily with author as she AND her words grow into this powerhouse of independence. Of a woman who knows herself. Her heart. Her God.
To Ride the Tides or Drown With Them and Generic Trap were standouts for me. Farooq explores the hopelessness that I feel runs rampant inside of teens, whether they show it or not. She shares that imprisoned feeling when it’s you and your thoughts and you don’t yet see a way out.
I HIGHLY recommend this collection!!! I felt each word to my core and enjoyed traveling for a place of darkness into empowerment.
There was so much confusion and hurt I could feel spinning off the pages in the beginning but you grow steadily with author as she AND her words grow into this powerhouse of independence. Of a woman who knows herself. Her heart. Her God.
To Ride the Tides or Drown With Them and Generic Trap were standouts for me. Farooq explores the hopelessness that I feel runs rampant inside of teens, whether they show it or not. She shares that imprisoned feeling when it’s you and your thoughts and you don’t yet see a way out.
I HIGHLY recommend this collection!!! I felt each word to my core and enjoyed traveling for a place of darkness into empowerment.
February 17, 2023
Sharmeen's poetry collection is so creative - you can see that besides writing she has so many other talents that I feel are bursting to come out of the white page.
Speaking of white, I can easily imagine part of this book presented in color. It's not hard to imagine the poems beautifully combined with imagery, visuals, and maybe even live reading.
As you know, I'm not a poetry expert, but this collection features so many interesting styles - bilingual poems, poems playing with shapes, an incredible reverse poem, and another one that sounds like a song.
It was truly a joy to read it and follow the phoenix journey!
Speaking of white, I can easily imagine part of this book presented in color. It's not hard to imagine the poems beautifully combined with imagery, visuals, and maybe even live reading.
As you know, I'm not a poetry expert, but this collection features so many interesting styles - bilingual poems, poems playing with shapes, an incredible reverse poem, and another one that sounds like a song.
It was truly a joy to read it and follow the phoenix journey!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews