Wounds: A Book Of Poems

Wounds is a raw and poetic exploration of pain, healing, and identity by Congolese-born poet Gemima Longodjo. Written in the aftermath of personal and collective trauma, this collection gives voice to the silence surrounding mental health, especially within immigrant communities and cultures that often stigmatize emotional expression. Each poem is a scar, a whisper, a cry for understanding, revealing how wounds are not just injuries of the flesh, but of the soul. These verses travel through the landscapes of childhood, family, faith, migration, and mental illness with striking vulnerability. The pages echo the ache of being misunderstood, the pressure to be perfect, and the complicated love we carry for those who have both raised and hurt us. Originally written as a form of release-perhaps even a goodbye-Wounds transformed into a powerful testimony of survival. It is a book born from darkness, but guided by the will to live and transform that darkness into art. It speaks to the voiceless, the hurting, and the healing. This collection invites you to see yourself reflected in its truths, to honor your journey, and to believe in the power of writing, therapy, and inner courage. Whether you are navigating your healing or witnessing someone else's, Wounds offers a mirror to the resilience of the human spirit.

About the Author :
Gemima is a proud Congolese woman, born and raised in the heart of Central Africa-the vibrant city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She spent the first decade of her life there before immigrating to the United States with her mother and four younger brothers, a journey made possible by her father, who had arrived two years earlier and secured their visas.Since moving to America, Gemima has completed high school and recently earned her associate's degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in social work, with a deep passion for helping others heal. Her academic and personal journey has been shaped by a calling to be a voice of empathy and compassion, especially for those who come from cultures like hers, where mental illness is often misunderstood or silenced.For much of her life, Gemima was taught that mental illness did not exist. It wasn't until the global pandemic of 2020 that she was forced to confront her hidden traumas and begin an intense personal journey toward healing. That moment of reckoning led her to do what once seemed impossible: ask for help.Facing her truth meant acknowledging that the world she grew up in was not always safe, and that her life had been marked by deep pain. At times, she felt lost, unsure of her purpose or place in the world. But out of that darkness, poetry became her lifeline. Writing gave her a way to process her emotions, name her wounds, and slowly begin to reclaim her power.

Review :
A Poetic hug