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She started putting her deepest thoughts and emotions to poetry on paper about six years ago.
But for Richmond native and debutant author Meena Mann, her soon-to-be released poetry collection, titled Phoenix Rising A Poetic Tale, is the realization of a life-long dream.
Mann – who grew up in Richmond at the family home near Garden City and Alexandra roads, but now lives in Vancouver where she teaches elementary – used to love writing as a child and often had her poems published in school yearbooks at Tomsett elementary and Cambie secondary.
Now she is on the cusp of releasing a select collection of poetry she hopes will resonate with people who have either gone through tough times or are in the process of doing so.
“I have three kids of my own, and I said to myself, I really want to do this. I figured out the process and started writing six years ago,” Mann told the Richmond News.
“During the pandemic, when we had nothing to do, I decided to put my collection together as a story and so, it actually came very naturally.
“Some poems talk about childhood, some are about growing up in teenage years, some are about love and heartbreak, some are about death and loss and family.”
Mann said when she started sharing some of her poetry on social media recently, she was surprised by how much positive reaction she received.
“I felt my poetry was maybe giving words to people who are struggling out there right now,” she said.
“It makes them realize they’re not alone. I do most of my writing at night, when everyone is sleeping and it’s quiet.
“It’s usually my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions. I also think about things going on in the world and if people share their personal stories with me.
“If someone is going through troubles or a break-up in their life. I may try to translate that to poetry. Some have been read at people’s funeral.”
Phoenix Rising A Poetic Tale is available for pre-sale on paperback right now at Amazon and Indigos online for $19.99, before it goes on sale April 11.
