From viral spoken word poet and author of The Rose That Blooms in the Night, a luminous new collection for fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade that explores themes of mindfulness, love, grief, and the strength it takes to be soft. Keep your defiant joy. Keep your stubborn hope. Keep those childlike eyes - they are not childish, but a rebellion against despair. In a world obsessed with productivity and perfection, Allie Michelle's poetry is a radical invitation to slow down, soften, and come alive. With a voice both fierce and tender, she reminds us that beauty is not a reward - it's a birthright. Her newest collection, Don't Wait to Light the Candles, is a poetic call to presence: a celebration of small sacred moments, a reckoning with pain, and a spark for anyone learning to rediscover their joy and live with their whole heart. This book is both balm and blaze - a place to land, and a push to rise.
