Picture this: you're 16, convinced the world is crumbling, and then someone hands you half an orange. That's the kind of simple, soul-stirring moment Hayley captures in her debut poetry collection, save me an orange. Released in paperback on March 12, 2024, these poems pull no punches—they dive straight into the tangled roots of childhood pain, family shadows, and those brutal growing pains we all carry.
Hayley doesn't sugarcoat the hurt. Her words trace the scars from tough upbringings, the ache of not fitting in, and the fight to choose life amid it all. But it's not all darkness. Woven throughout are threads of love—for yourself, for others—and the small victories that light the way to self-acceptance. It's like she's whispering your own unspoken story back to you, making you nod along with tears or a quiet smile.
Each verse feels handpicked from real life: fleeting joys in everyday acts, like splitting fruit with your best friend on a day that felt like the end. The language is straightforward yet piercing—no fancy metaphors forced, just honest rhythm that sticks in your head. At around 200 pages (typical for a debut poetry paperback), it's the perfect length to savor over coffee or late nights.
These aren't poems you read once. They're companions for rainy afternoons when doubt creeps in, or gifts for friends navigating their own storms. Slip it into a bag for a road trip, share a line over text, or let it sit on your nightstand as a daily nudge toward kindness—for yourself first. Readers searching for poetry about self-acceptance, coming-of-age poems, or mental health poetry books will find resonance here, answering that quiet question: 'Does anyone else feel this way?'
Hayley's voice reminds us that even when nothing's left, life tosses us oranges. Grab save me an orange and taste the bittersweet truth for yourself.
