We often think of poetry as a song, a flower, a thing of beauty-rendered charmingly in words. But poetry must also evoke the thorns, the trauma, the toxicity, that leave our lives in disarray. This collection takes a gritty look at toxic human dynamics through poetic dialogues, monologues and satire. With scathing sarcasm and biting wit, the poems evoke the grim reality of our times, characterised by growing hatred and rampant abuse. The book unpacks the pernicious phenomenon of abuse: the scourge and besetting sin of our age, as evidenced by the psychological violence on social media. These online spaces mirror and magnify the toxicity in the real world. The verses delve into the psyche of victims, abusers, enablers and observers-laying bare their thought process. Abuse can often go undetected owing to a lack of understanding of its pathological manifestations, to the detriment of unsuspecting victims who are woefully unprepared to handle what's coming their way. This collection is a trenchant exploration of a troubling issue. The poet hopes that it will provoke a discussion on the difficult dimensions of interpersonal dynamics. Through her exquisite craftsmanship, she offers a gut-wrenching portrayal of something that is essentially unpoetic. She has written a work of great force. It will shake you to the core
