questions worth sitting with

deeply moving and powerful are the words that come to mind when i reflect on inward. as i moved through the book, i found myself becoming curious about why certain poems resonated so strongly with me. some brought life to things i was mindfully aware of within myself, while others awakened a curiosity about parts of me that are still waiting to be understood.

the poem unfreezing particularly stayed with me. it connected with my own experience of having frozen places in my life. as i read, i imagined a mystical dark form folding inward and being reborn. it told me that sometimes we need to descend into the deepest parts of ourselves, meet our resistance, and from there discover the strength and resilience needed for change.

erin’s writing is authentic, vivid, raw and beautiful. there is a courage in the way she shares her inner world, but also a deep compassion and grace that runs through the work. her imagery is thoughtful and powerful, and i often found myself pausing to reflect on my own journey towards self-acceptance.

for me, inward felt like a journey true to its title — a descent, a return, and ultimately a renewal. it is a collection that moved me, challenged me, and left me with questions worth sitting with.

reflection by jayden smith, registered psychotherapist, new zealand