Cardinal or Crow

2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards Bronze Award in PoetryThe cardinal and the crow, the love and the loss. Cardinal or Crow is a poignant and intimate collection of poetry chronicling a decade of personal transformation. Through vivid, lyrical verse, the author explores the emotional terrain of profound grief and quiet heartbreak as she navigates the sudden loss of her mother and the gradual unraveling of her marriage. This collection doesn't shy away from sorrow-it embraces it alongside joy, growth, and resilience. Each poem marks a step in the author's journey back to herself, celebrating the raw, messy beauty of being alive. With a voice that is both vulnerable and unflinchingly honest, Cardinal or Crow is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure, to evolve, and to find light even in the darkest of seasons.