Behind the Smoke is a poetic answer to the age-old question regarding my life and why I smoke as much as I do. To me the answer was always simple "TO MASK MY HURT AND PAIN" but when the time arose to explain I could never find the correct words to completely convey what my mind already knew. Which caused me to go on a journey deep within and unlock parts of myself that even I was meeting for the first time, and by doing so I came up with this bold and vulnerable yet controversial and freeing poetic collection. That covers a wide variety of topics and emotions ranging from Mental Health and Family to the Black Experience and the special "Red Rooms" all while loving and healing myself. this was such a beautiful emotional journey that I invite everyone to come along with me and devour what's Behind the Smoke. Although I cannot offer complete and sound healing my hope is that this collection will bring you closer to it and change your outlook on what healing looks like as well as understand that there is no perfect way to begin healing in order to propel through it. just know there is comfort in being healed on the other side