I’ve been away from social media for awhile but am excited to announce I’ve released my latest collection of poetry, Frozen Rivers. As someone who has struggled with mental illness most of his life, I wanted to give voice to the battle we go through. It is also a collection of nature poems about the winter season. The book is split into two sections-“Frozen Grounds” (Nature) and “Frozen Hearts” (Mental Illness/Mental Health)-that alternate every poem.

This is the first book of a planned tetralogy, one book for each season with an accompanying mental health issue or celebration. This winter collection is planned to be the darkest mental health poems, considering winter is thought to be the darkest and bleakest season. Though there are some poems of hope, most of these are dark. They include poems about anxiety disorder / panic disorder (attacks), depression, bipolar, and SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

But in no way was this collection of dark poetry published to make anyone feel hopeless. I have often felt the most hopeful after interacting with melancholic art. Why? Because one of the biggest illusions of mental illness is its ability to trick you into believing you’re all alone and no one has ever felt like you do and could never understand what you’re going through. My hope is that by reading these poems others will find solace knowing that they are not alone in their pain. Link to Amazon below. Thanks to all who purchase it and to all who have supported my work! Ratings/reviews are always appreciated. Signed copies of my previous nature poetry collection, Nature’s Bounty, are available on my bookstore as well.

Frozen Rivers – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRKXQQVD

Nature’s Bounty Signed Copy – https://www.inkspirationbooks.com/products/natures-bounty-a-collection-of-poems-about-nature-by-justin-farley-signed