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Wildflower
Like a wildflower growing freely in the wilderness, on a barren mountain range, or the edge of a forgotten wasteland, we can bloom in unexpected and broken places too.
Through eighty confessional poems and stunning art pieces, Wildflower explores our broken places – the memories and people that haunt us and hinder us – and inspires readers to free themselves from their ghosts and bloom, just as wildflowers do.
Sharp, honest and hopeful, this is a journey through mental health struggles, sexuality, love and infatuation, rebirth and inner strength. With an emphasis on reframing your past and defining who you want to be, Wildflower is a moving, poignant collection that will resonate with anyone who wants to feel empowered by their resilience and emboldened by their pain.
Through eighty confessional poems and stunning art pieces, Wildflower explores our broken places – the memories and people that haunt us and hinder us – and inspires readers to free themselves from their ghosts and bloom, just as wildflowers do.
Sharp, honest and hopeful, this is a journey through mental health struggles, sexuality, love and infatuation, rebirth and inner strength. With an emphasis on reframing your past and defining who you want to be, Wildflower is a moving, poignant collection that will resonate with anyone who wants to feel empowered by their resilience and emboldened by their pain.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2022
About the author
Sam Payne
3 books84 followersSam Payne is a poet and artist based in Cambridge, UK. He has published two poetry books, this boy is a rainbow and this boy is a constellation, which explore love, loss, mental health, self-discovery, sexuality and growth. Sam's work has been featured in various anthologies and literary magazines, including mostly recently Instagram Poetry for Every Day (Lawrence King) and Poems for a Pandemic (HarperCollins).
His third book, Wildflower, a stunning collection of poems and art pieces about grief and healing, will be published in August 2022.
When he's not writing, Sam can be found tending to be houseplants, reading a good book, or treating himself to a slice of cake. Connect with him on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @bysampayne and visit his website www.bysampayne.com.
His third book, Wildflower, a stunning collection of poems and art pieces about grief and healing, will be published in August 2022.
When he's not writing, Sam can be found tending to be houseplants, reading a good book, or treating himself to a slice of cake. Connect with him on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @bysampayne and visit his website www.bysampayne.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 20, 2022
a painfully beautiful honest take on being free, falling in love, and finding yourself. Payne shows us that there is light even after the world has drowned you in darkness. taking you deep into the nostalgia of young romance & existing freely as you are; you’ll feel the pages screaming at you to give them all dog ears.
this collection left me wanting to runaway with a lover but also find peace within where the present moment has brought me.
One of my favourite lines from the entire collection is, “we thought we were gods when we were only boys”
Sam has definitely perfected his own unique style of craft in his third collection, with a majority of longer pieces, with line breaks split up by slashes, to only add intensity to his colourful metaphors.
Something that many writers (who have struggled with substance abuse or sexual traumas) do is paint a pretty picture for the readers to glamorize a rock bottom story & have them keep coming back for more cold nostalgia - but Payne does not do this. Instead, he opens up and reminds us how pretty the leaves are on the other side of these traumas. He reminds us it is okay to grow. It is okay to be ourselves.
Highly recommend for anybody struggling with their sexuality, heartbreak, or dealing with trauma. But I also just highly recommend to all poetry lovers out there that want more than the often short & sad four liners from a modern day poet.
this collection left me wanting to runaway with a lover but also find peace within where the present moment has brought me.
One of my favourite lines from the entire collection is, “we thought we were gods when we were only boys”
Sam has definitely perfected his own unique style of craft in his third collection, with a majority of longer pieces, with line breaks split up by slashes, to only add intensity to his colourful metaphors.
Something that many writers (who have struggled with substance abuse or sexual traumas) do is paint a pretty picture for the readers to glamorize a rock bottom story & have them keep coming back for more cold nostalgia - but Payne does not do this. Instead, he opens up and reminds us how pretty the leaves are on the other side of these traumas. He reminds us it is okay to grow. It is okay to be ourselves.
Highly recommend for anybody struggling with their sexuality, heartbreak, or dealing with trauma. But I also just highly recommend to all poetry lovers out there that want more than the often short & sad four liners from a modern day poet.
April 15, 2023
I’ve read Sam’s previous two books and really enjoyed them, so of course I wanted to check this one out too! The cover really caught my eye with its bright colors!
The use of color and imagery were my favorite elements. His style of poetry, especially with this book, is really soothing. The types of imagery were so nice - cue “happy sigh”. And I also enjoyed his addition of an Inspirations page! Such a great idea!
I can’t say too much about why Wildflower is a 4 star read for me (usually I can pick out something or a collection of things) but 4 just feels right. There were a few places where I went back and forth mentally on whether there were typos or if it was just what Sam intended. (I’m a stickler for grammar and spelling, what can I say?) But it didn’t really affect my overall experience.
I still really love the use of colors in the poems, visuals, and cover! Very pretty!
The use of color and imagery were my favorite elements. His style of poetry, especially with this book, is really soothing. The types of imagery were so nice - cue “happy sigh”. And I also enjoyed his addition of an Inspirations page! Such a great idea!
I can’t say too much about why Wildflower is a 4 star read for me (usually I can pick out something or a collection of things) but 4 just feels right. There were a few places where I went back and forth mentally on whether there were typos or if it was just what Sam intended. (I’m a stickler for grammar and spelling, what can I say?) But it didn’t really affect my overall experience.
I still really love the use of colors in the poems, visuals, and cover! Very pretty!
July 26, 2022
Firstly, I'd like to thank Sam Payne for gifting me the eARC of his upcoming poetry collection that releases 1st of August, Wildflower.
I've now read all three of Sam's poetry collections and this is my favourite of the three. I loved that this collection was full of long form poetry, whereas the previous two were mainly short form poems. I have always appreciated long form poetry in published collections and it felt like we got more of an insight into Sam's writing style by giving us more to read. The interior is so beautiful and vibrant just like the front cover. The layout of the interior reminded me of House Of Stars And Flowers On Mars by Sakshi Narula, which is similarly formatted and also self published! Sam was able to use his own images and words to create beautiful works of art all contained in one book.
This collection depicts an intimate reflection of Sam's life by using his own memories but he goes a step further by expanding, reworking and reimagining his memories in this collection which feels like the next step in a writers progression, in my opinion. Something I have used in my own writing recently. The amount of effort Sam has put into this collection is evident on each and every page. He really has done the self publishing community proud! I love that Sam has started to title every poem in this collection as it is just something I always appreciate in poetry collections. I enjoyed reading some of the poetry out loud when I had the chance which just enhanced the meaning.
Amy x
I've now read all three of Sam's poetry collections and this is my favourite of the three. I loved that this collection was full of long form poetry, whereas the previous two were mainly short form poems. I have always appreciated long form poetry in published collections and it felt like we got more of an insight into Sam's writing style by giving us more to read. The interior is so beautiful and vibrant just like the front cover. The layout of the interior reminded me of House Of Stars And Flowers On Mars by Sakshi Narula, which is similarly formatted and also self published! Sam was able to use his own images and words to create beautiful works of art all contained in one book.
This collection depicts an intimate reflection of Sam's life by using his own memories but he goes a step further by expanding, reworking and reimagining his memories in this collection which feels like the next step in a writers progression, in my opinion. Something I have used in my own writing recently. The amount of effort Sam has put into this collection is evident on each and every page. He really has done the self publishing community proud! I love that Sam has started to title every poem in this collection as it is just something I always appreciate in poetry collections. I enjoyed reading some of the poetry out loud when I had the chance which just enhanced the meaning.
Amy x
July 25, 2022
**Thanks in advance to Sam for sending me an ARC of his latest poetry collection! :)
“Wildflower” is Sam Payne’s third poetry collection that includes 80 poems with various stylistic choices and dozens of visually captivating art pieces. Many of these poems focus on the traumatic memories created between us and the person we thought was THE one. Sam writes with a certain vulnerability that we as readers often look for in both prose and poetry, and he handles these traumas with a realistic yet conscious approach. I found solace and comfort in many of these poems as they helped me personally consider my own experiences and find the right language to reckon with them. Additionally, Sam provides a great emphasis on us as individuals, and how we have the means to find place and worth in a terrain that is often working against us. Despite the pain, regret, and grief in life, Sam’s poems encourage us to find hope and accept how much power we really have.
Altogether, this latest collection by Sam Payne is a visually beautiful and powerful testament to the presence of trauma and what we can do to stand against it.
“Wildflower” is Sam Payne’s third poetry collection that includes 80 poems with various stylistic choices and dozens of visually captivating art pieces. Many of these poems focus on the traumatic memories created between us and the person we thought was THE one. Sam writes with a certain vulnerability that we as readers often look for in both prose and poetry, and he handles these traumas with a realistic yet conscious approach. I found solace and comfort in many of these poems as they helped me personally consider my own experiences and find the right language to reckon with them. Additionally, Sam provides a great emphasis on us as individuals, and how we have the means to find place and worth in a terrain that is often working against us. Despite the pain, regret, and grief in life, Sam’s poems encourage us to find hope and accept how much power we really have.
Altogether, this latest collection by Sam Payne is a visually beautiful and powerful testament to the presence of trauma and what we can do to stand against it.
August 29, 2022
Wildflower is some of Sam Payne's best work yet. It is incredibly touching, with poems that are personal, yet resonate with a worldwide audience. The book is visually stunning, with full-cover artwork accompanying each poem. I could've breezed through the anthology in a matter of hours - it was THAT good - but I took the time to savour every page and truly appreciate the artistry behind Sam's words and art. Highly recommend this beautiful work!
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September 2, 2022In this visually stunning collection, Sam Payne illustrates the small moments of love, loss, and healing that constitute a life. "Wildflower" is an ode to growth, and the powerful, often painful, memories that haunt our dreams. With its pages of gorgeous collages and poems dense with imagery, this is Payne's best work yet.
March 3, 2023
Sam Payne is my favorite poet. Beautiful metaphors and words that cut you straight to the core.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews