Finding a love for poetry in my late teens and early twenties, I discovered it to be one of the most unique avenues to explore the human condition. Poetry became the sole medium I used to contemplate the intricacies of the world around me, as well as unravel the thoughts within my mind and heart.

I believed I had a lot to say in my earlier years. Yet now, as a husband to my wife, Bella, and father of two, I realize my experiences within those two identities has given me more to speak of than I ever thought imaginable. The small world I thought I lived in has become a galaxy, while my simple juvenile mind has become a labyrinth.

This collection of poems was written out of necessity - to give my heart reprieve from the experiences it carries and allow my soul to move on to the next. It is here for you, the reader, in the hopes that each poem may provide you with hope, solace, fulfillment, and curiosity.

If nothing else, these poems exist to provide evidence of how marvelous life can be when one gives their heart permission to truly speak what it feels.

Thank you for reading.

With much love,

- Daniel Barel