The Sweet Cream of My Pleading

Abstract

In The Sweet Cream of My Pleading, psychological instability acts as a catalyst for connection. Exploring states of melancholy, neuroticism, and loneliness, the poems in this collection approach emotional suffering with both depth and levity, giving voice not only to turmoil, but to humor, wonder, and love. The poems’ speakers communicate through a variety of forms—from penguin, to planet, to donkey—in the hope that their pain will be understood. The collection affirms that, even as we plead for answers, what we truly need is for someone to “come exist beside” us and listen.