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Poetry Requires Precision
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story is a deeply moving and inspiring collection of poetry and memoir, offering readers a wellspring of meaning and reflection. How do you strike a balance between clarity and ambiguity in your poetry?
Poetry is a unique space where emotions and meaning can exist between the lines. For me, finding the balance between clarity and ambiguity comes naturally through my experience with aphasia. I aim to make my poetry accessible, allowing readers to feel the raw emotions behind my words, but I also leave room for interpretation—so that each person can find their own meaning in my experiences. Sometimes, what is left unsaid carries just as much weight as the words on the page.
What was the most challenging part of writing your poetry collection and memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part was finding the right words to express my emotions while navigating the effects of aphasia. Writing poetry requires precision, yet my struggle with language often made it frustrating. However, this challenge also became my greatest strength—it forced me to dig deeper, to express feelings in ways beyond just words, through rhythm, imagery, and raw emotion.
The most rewarding part was seeing how the poems came together as a reflection of my journey. It was not just about my personal healing but about creating something that could resonate with others. Knowing that my words might inspire someone going through their own struggles makes all the effort worth it.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope readers take away the message that even in life’s most difficult moments, there is always strength within us to keep going. Thunderstroke is not just about my journey—it’s about resilience, hope, and the power of finding meaning in adversity. I want readers to know that no matter how tough their battle is, they are not alone, and their story is still being written. There is always light beyond the storm.
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Written for those navigating the labyrinth of loss, grief, and profound change, Thunderstroke offers solace and guidance. It reflects on the fragile tapestry of existence, unraveling how we endure the thunderous ruptures that divide life into “before” and “after.”
This memoir is not just about survival but transformation—how we heal, rebuild, and emerge stronger in the face of overwhelming challenges. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, embracing vulnerability as a source of strength and finding hope amidst despair.
Thunderstroke is more than a collection of poetry; it is a map for navigating the uncharted waters of upheaval. It invites readers to journey through the storm and discover the quiet miracle of renewal—a reminder that while life may fracture, it also holds the power to mend.
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story
Terence Ang’s Thunderstroke is a deeply moving and profoundly inspiring poetry collection, offering readers of all ages and backgrounds a wellspring of meaning and reflection. More than just a compilation of poems, it is a poetic memoir, an intimate chronicle of resilience, born from a true and challenging personal journey.
From the opening pages, the term thunderstroke is defined as “the moment when life shifts irrevocably, altering its course in a single, cataclysmic instant.” This definition sets the stage for Ang’s story, a raw and honest account of a life upended in an instant. Without warning, his world was overturned, his health compromised, and his very way of living forever altered. In the aftermath, a torrent of emotions overwhelmed him, grief, fear, despair. Yet, through poetry, he captures this transformation in exquisite detail, chronicling his path from devastation to acceptance, from darkness to light.
The book unfolds across three distinct sections: A Cry in the Dark, Thunderstroke, and The Light. Each marks a different phase of his journey, mapping the descent into hardship, the reckoning with change, and the eventual emergence into hope and renewal. The poetry is strikingly evocative, weaving emotion into every line. As readers, we are not merely observers; we are drawn into his experience and find echoes of our own struggles within his words. Ang’s verse acts as both a mirror and a guide, leading us through the shadows of uncertainty toward the quiet strength that lies beyond suffering.
More than just a collection of poems, Thunderstroke speaks to the human spirit’s capacity for endurance. It reminds us that life’s challenges, whether great or small, shape, rather than define us. With a simplicity that belies its depth, this book offers companionship in moments of doubt, a spark of clarity in times of confusion, and a steadying presence along life’s unpredictable path. Whether seeking solace, inspiration, or simply a reason to keep moving forward, readers will find in Thunderstroke a testament to the power of resilience and the beauty hidden within life’s most unexpected turns.
Pages: 102 | ASIN : B0DTPGLT8C
LITERARY TITAN 