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Embracing Vulnerability Without Hesitation
Orphic Wonder is a collection of poetry that explores themes of femininity, self-discovery, faith, trauma, and the bittersweet weight of memory. What inspired this collection of poems?
Orphic Wonder was shaped by deeply personal experiences, especially after undergoing a craniotomy for an aneurysm in 2012 and later facing the reality of another inoperable aneurysm. Moments like these force a complete shift in perspective, prompting reflection on identity, change, disability, and the process of adapting to a new way of living. Many of my poems tap into this raw vulnerability, while others take on a more whimsical tone—like the one about the day it rained frogs, inspired by an actual natural event. Not every piece in this collection is autobiographical, but all are rooted in the emotional truths that shape us. Sometimes, writing is about stepping into another person’s reality and allowing empathy to take the lead.
Over time, I’ve realized that poetry has a way of finding its audience. Social media has been a powerful tool in gauging emotional responses, and one of the strongest connections I’ve seen is to the poems centered on tne feminine. Themes of womanhood have always been relevant, but right now, they feel more urgent than ever. The Postman is a Stranger and Keep Your Hands to Yourself resonated deeply with women because they reflect lived realities—experiences that are often dismissed, downplayed, or misunderstood. The feminine form is strong, yet so often in life, it is overshadowed, silenced, or forced to navigate archaic ideals and outdated notions. While I write poetry for myself, my audience plays a role in shaping what I share. The response to these poems reinforced how vital it is to have these conversations in literature and art.
How do you approach writing about deeply personal or emotional topics?
Writing about personal and emotional topics means embracing vulnerability without hesitation. It’s like songwriting—when the emotion is real, it resonates. There’s an instinct to protect yourself when writing about difficult moments, but I try to let the words come honestly, without overthinking. Even when a poem isn’t drawn directly from my own life, I want it to create an emotional response, to challenge perceptions, or to offer a moment of recognition for the reader. That’s always my goal—connection and authenticity.
How do you know when a poem is truly finished?
A poem is finished when it feels like it can stand on its own. It’s intuitive—you just know. If I have any doubt, I leave it for a few weeks and come back with fresh eyes. Sometimes, time reveals what’s missing or what needs to be stripped away. Other times, I realize it was complete all along.
How has this poetry book changed you as a writer, or what did you learn about yourself through writing it?
To my delight, this is my second published book of poems and the second to become a bestseller. It has also captured some awards, which was a bit of a shock! But at the end of the day, what fuels me to write is when readers reach out and tell me how a poem or the book impacted them.
Orphic Wonder confirmed for me that vulnerability is not a weakness—it’s a source of power. I’ve learned that poetry can be both deeply personal and universal at the same time. The most rewarding moments are when readers reach out to say that a poem spoke to them in a way they weren’t expecting. When someone shares my book with a loved one, it reminds me that writing has a ripple effect—one thought, one line, one emotion passed from person to person. That’s what keeps me writing.
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This collection of evocative poetry, reflective thoughts, and spiritual prose guides readers through the raw landscapes of joy, family, neurodiversity, disability, the feminine, musings of childhood in Australia, and the journey of surviving grief, loss, and trauma.
Orphic Wonder resonates with those embarking on a journey of introspection. It provides daily inspiration in a unique page-a-day format.
Whether you’re seeking solace, empowerment, or a deeper connection with the universe, Orphic Wonder offers a sanctuary of verse and prose that honours the complexities of being human.
With a large and engaged social media following, KB Eliza has touched the hearts of thousands, building on the success of her first book, Vignettes of the Possibly Dying, which was shortlisted for the International Book Awards for Literature.
From the Author:
Dear Reader,
This book of poetry is presented in a different format from many others. The lack structured sections is intentional. You can open it at any page and find a message that resonates with you.
The poems are a mixed bag, from the nostalgia of childhood to the experience of facing the many messy, painful and joyful moments in life. Living a life of metaphysical enquiry punctuated by the curious debacle of mortality looming and neurodiversity -means my life is never boring.
As I chose each one, I noticed a theme of the feminine and faith underpinning many of them. May you find one, sit with it and feel it deep in your bones.
Blessings, KB
As Maya Angelou said, ‘We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.’
Orphic Wonder
KB Eliza’s Orphic Wonder is a poetic journey through the raw and the transcendent. It’s a book without rigid structure, a collection of verses that invites the reader to dive in at any page and find something that resonates. The poetry explores themes of femininity, self-discovery, faith, trauma, and the bittersweet weight of memory. The language shifts between sharp and lyrical, at times comforting, at others confronting. Each poem feels like a whispered truth, something felt deep in the bones, just as the author promises in the introduction.
Eliza’s writing is unapologetically vulnerable. Poems like “The Postman is a Stranger” cut deep, exploring how illness and time reshape relationships. There’s an almost cinematic quality to her imagery, one moment you’re with her at a doorstep, feeling the weight of a changed face, and the next, you’re watching parcels left without smiles. Then there’s “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” which hits like a gut punch, weaving together memories of trust and violation with a steady, almost quiet rage. These poems don’t just ask to be read; they demand to be felt.
Not every poem is somber. There’s joy, nostalgia, and resilience woven throughout. “No Crumbs” radiates a sense of defiant celebration, dancing barefoot, singing loudly, and drinking from the best crystal just because. It’s a reminder that life, despite its chaos, is meant to be lived fully. “Burleigh Heads” is a sunlit memory, rich with beachside warmth and the comfort of familiar words from a loved one. These pieces show Eliza’s ability to balance light and dark, making sure the book doesn’t drown in its own heaviness.
At times, the poetry leans into the abstract, which can be both a strength and a challenge. Some pieces feel like riddles wrapped in emotion, requiring multiple reads to fully grasp. “The Architect” and “Matrix” explore metaphysical ideas that leave the reader pondering, but they also risk feeling elusive. That said, this quality adds to the book’s charm and it doesn’t hand you answers but instead nudges you toward your own interpretations.
Orphic Wonder is for those who appreciate poetry that doesn’t shy away from the messiness of existence. If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, faith, or the ghosts of your past, there’s something here that will echo in you. It’s the kind of book you keep nearby, flipping through when you need a moment of connection. Eliza’s words don’t just sit on the page; they linger, they whisper, they stay.
Pages: 212 | ASIN : B0DHSZ51GB
LITERARY TITAN 