And then there was me: The poems that define me

By Priya Patel

And then there was me is somewhat of an autobiographical collection of poems, representing author Priya Patel, her feelings, emotions, thoughts as she was going through love, loss, and heartaches—all the things we have all gone though, expressed poetically. For Priya, writing has become so much more than just a hobby or a pastime; it is a passion, and over the years has turned more into therapy for her; helping her to heal. It is her greatest hope that her readers will read, relate, and heal a little as well.

About the Author
Priya Patel has been writing poetry since her teenage years as a way of therapy. Over the years, she has branched out to moderating on poetry groups via social media and even created a few groups where she would offer challenges or contests to help other poets grow. Currently, she is working on collaborations with other poets and photographers to publish books that focus on both poetry and photography, and artistic collaborations, including children’s books. She loves helping people in ways they don’t think they need. Writing is one such unsung hero of sorts; you don’t know you need it until you have written it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890275653

Book preview

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The contents of this work, including, but not limited to, the accuracy of events, people, and places depicted; opinions expressed; permission to use previously published materials included; and any advice given or actions advocated are solely the responsibility of the author, who assumes all liability for said work and indemnifies the publisher against any claims stemming from publication of the work.

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2024 by Priya Patel

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, downloaded, distributed, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without permission in writing from the publisher.

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For you, Mom, because you always hung on to every word I wrote as if I was writing liquid gold. You always believed I was destined for greater things, and with you by my side I believed it too. Thank you for making me believe I could do this, that I could share with the world our stories, because at the end of the day this is all for you. I miss you, Mom; I miss you always.

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Reading poetry is like walking through a meadow. Reading Priya’s collection of poems titled ‘And then there was me’ is like walking through a garden. A garden is a collection of carefully curated and manicured plants. Gardening serve multiple ends – it is a therapy, hobby, art, science and catharsis, all at once.

Priya’s garden is full of the metaphorical roses with thorns.  There are daffodils and daiies, orchids and others. There is love and there is loss. There is gut wrenching pain and heart brimming joy. Then there is that pause, that reflection and that deprecating way of exploring the self. It is a garden of flowers, thorns, weeds and leaves.

What I am saying is that lovely, whimsical, and soulful things happen in a garden, leaving a gardener giddy."

— Janisse Ray, The Seed Underground:

A Growing Revolution to Save Food

We share the giddiness of the poet. Her nights of working days is when she tends to her garden - that litany of verses that flows out of her heart, soul and fingertips. No poem is manufactured, for they soak in spontaneity.

I became a butterfly when my heart fluttered with love.  I became a seed