Keep your defiant joy. Keep your stubborn hope. Keep those childlike eyes–they are not childish, but a rebellion against despair. In a world obsessed with productivity and perfection, Allie Michelle’s poetry is a radical invitation to slow down, soften, and come alive. With a voice both fierce and tender, she reminds us that beauty is not a reward–it’s a birthright. Her newest collection, Don’t Wait to Light the Candles, is a poetic call to presence: a celebration of small sacred moments, a reckoning with pain, and a spark for anyone learning to rediscover their joy and live with their whole heart. This book is both balm and blaze–a place to land, and a push to rise.
