Beautifully Damned

By Jane Wolf

Introducing "Beautifully Damned" by Jane Wolf, a poignant and captivating collection of poems and short stories that explore the depths of the human experience. Drawing from personal struggles and connections with those around them, Jane Wolf offers a unique perspective on the beauty and pain of life. Through their raw and honest prose, readers will find themselves drawn into a world of emotion and introspection, where the lines between joy and despair are blurred, and every moment holds the potential for growth and revelation. From heart-wrenching accounts of loss and love to uplifting tales of perseverance and hope, "Beautifully Damned" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of storytelling to connect us all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jane Wolf
• Release date: Apr 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215890448

Book preview

Beautifully Damned

Voices from My World:

Poems and Short Stories Inspired by Souls Who Saw Mine

Jane Wolf

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When I felt small, you all were there to pick me up, and I will never forget that. I love and thank you from the deepest part of my being.

Prologue

As I write this book, I am reminded of the people who have come into my life, each with a unique story. These are people who have faced hardships that most of us can only imagine, and yet they have emerged from these experiences with a resilience and strength that is truly inspiring.

I have been fortunate to hear these stories firsthand, and I have been moved to tears by the courage and determination of those who have shared them with me. These stories have inspired me to write this book, a collection of poems and short stories that will capture the depth and complexity of the human experience.

Through my writing, I aim to highlight the daily struggles and transitions many of us face and remind my readers that they are not alone. I want to inspire community and empathy, and encourage us all to build a more compassionate world.

So join me on this journey, as we explore the beauty and complexity of the human experience and work together to create a more just, loving, and beautiful world. For we are all beautifully damned, and through our stories, we will find our way forward.

Opener

When I was a little girl, I pretended I was able to control the wind and use telekinesis to move around objects in my room. I would reach out for the stars glowing on the popcorn ceiling and imagine the world within those stars. What it would be like to escape reality and drift away into a fantasy world. I was so happy and full of hope. When you're a kid, status, money, and looks, don’t matter. What mattered was that you were able to control the wind, manipulate cloud patterns, and fly through the stars into a faraway galaxy. Innocent. Sweet. Naive.

Have you ever looked back and wished you could relive your childhood accomplishments? Like doing a front flip into the pool, taking the training wheels off your bike for the first time, or buying an ice cream cone from the Dairy Mart up the street all by yourself.

The wins we thought at the time were glorious moments. That tingly feeling you get in your belly when you know you did it—all on your own. Sometimes I return to these moments with vivid pictures when I smell a certain chapstick or watch the transition from Summer to Fall and see leaves piling up in the streets where I used to play with the neighborhood kids.

These pictures that flash before my eyes make me relive moments I almost locked away in my subconscious and completely drowned out.

The memories of traveling with my family will always reside with me. I remember one vacation in Naples, Florida; Orion’s Belt was beaming down on me, with a happy full moon smiling down on my crown. I would stare into the distance each night and see lights from boats on the horizon, thinking it was a different country and that I could swim to it—such a badass mindset. The beauty within the confidence and determination was bittersweet. That child that still tried whispering hope with quivering lips has been tested over time, and soon the whispers faded into white noise. Suddenly, you're almost 30 and can barely look people in the eye because you fear they might hate you. Huge difference. Where did that little badass go? Why did she leave? Is she hiding away? I still feel