« putting a frame of words around souvenirs, that i have carefully collected and painstakingly held on to, of people and moments that are long gone. » __ this book is a collection of poems, free verses, single liners, thoughts and musings. __ i hope you enjoy reading.

「 WATTYS 2019 WINNER 」 the failings of a surgically healed heart, is a series of autobiographical poems arranged into six thematic parts to form a collection which examines the idea of the collective and how that informs individual. i. family an exploration of my relationship with the men and boys in my household and how that has worsened, whilst the opposite is true of the rest of my family ii. immigrant an exploration of the immigrant experience and how as the first child of igbo parents; i was the intermediate between the east and west iii. spirituality an exploration of growing up in the catholic faith and an examination of all its faults and hypocrisies. iv. loving an exploration of friendship, artistry, sexuality, failed romance, but most importantly self-love and all it entails. v. womanhood an exploration of how in many ways puberty was a bitter sweet reality check along with everything that it entailed. vi. catharsis a reflection on the worst period of time in my life where, with hindsight, i come to terms with harsh and lovely realities of life and death.

SHE STOOD, AND THE SWEEPING MOUTH OF THE SUN BLUSHED OVER THE SKIN. © 2020, tigerlily

❛ please, please just don't touch me, baby is everything okay? no it's not okay, just don't touch me. ❜ . in which pallavi battles the indian court system, it's powerfully oppressive men, and the demon within herself