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Warm golden wildflowers in soft sunlight

a debut poetry collection

The Breaking
of Myself

by Carissa Rees

exploring the fragile spaces between hope and hopelessness, and the quiet beauty of becoming undone

get your copy read a poem

from the collection

A Taste of the Pages

the vase is bleeding

how can I heal
when my wounds have wounds
when water poured into the vase
bleeds through the cracks
when its my tears
that need holding
only they are falling
my weakness now ignoring

that it's me

the one who needs restoring

from The Breaking of Myself

immersed in sunlight

being immersed by sunlight
is curiously
why beauty on my skin
life becomes loving

it's the tone of skin
and the colour orange
on my eyelids

it's being told I'm worthy
I'm seen and I am not less

from The Breaking of Myself

end of autumn

my colour leaves
the branches bare
I shed what I was
to become
what I dare

the cold draws near
but I am warm
in knowing
there is beauty
in the storm

from The Breaking of Myself

“I'm 21 years old and I published my diary. Let that sink in. All of my dear personal insecurities, my fears, my longings, everything.”
— Carissa Rees
Open poetry book with dried flowers and warm golden light

about the poet

Carissa Rees

Carissa is a 21-year-old poet and artist from the Sunshine Coast, Australia. She is passionate about creating immersive experiences that combine poetry, art, and video — translating the intimacy of the written page into something you can feel.

Her debut collection, The Breaking of Myself, explores themes of self-identity, hopelessness, hope, despair, brokenness, light, and the beauty of becoming undone. Each poem is paired with hand-drawn botanical illustrations.

When she's not writing, you'll find her reading poems to strangers, collaborating with visual artists, or experimenting with ways to bring poetry to life beyond the page.

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poetry

The Breaking
of Myself

Carissa Rees

available now

Get Your Copy

A raw and intimate poetry collection exploring what it means to come undone — and what can be found in the pieces. 146 pages of poetry paired with hand-drawn illustrations.

Publisher: Poetry Chapel Press Pages: 146 Format: Paperback (5" × 8") ISBN: 978-1764216807
buy on amazon bookshop.org

what readers are saying

Words from Readers

★★★★★

“These poems carry the ache of doubt, the weight of sadness, and the quiet beauty of becoming. Honesty that wounds and heals.”

— Reader review

★★★★★

“A remarkable young woman sharing her poetry with the world, putting her art out there and expressing her feelings with courage.”

— Samantha Palmer

★★★★★

“Like reading someone's illustrated journal — raw, beautiful, and impossible to put down. The botanical illustrations are a perfect companion to the words.”

— Reader review

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