Living Through the Fire

Living Through the Fire is a narrative poetry collection that examines coercive control, domestic abuse, trauma, grief and recovery through the extended metaphor of fire. Comprising seven interconnected sections-Pyre, Smoke, Ignite, Engulfed, Phoenix, After Burn and Clarity-the collection follows the progression of a relationship from idealisation and attachment through manipulation, violence, separation, mourning and eventual understanding.

With a minimalist raw approach to visual presentation, the collection opens with Pyre, which explores the early stages of the relationship and the experience of love bombing. These poems depict intense attachment, devotion, hope and the construction of a shared future. In Smoke, uncertainty begins to emerge with a growing awareness of inconsistencies, emotional volatility and a heightening  sense of unease. Ignite follows the escalation of tension, documenting the gradual erosion of self-trust as blame, confusion and psychological manipulation take hold.

The central section, Engulfed, examines the experience of coercive control and abuse. The poems explore isolation, fear, trauma bonding, physical violence and the fragmentation of identity that occurs when survival becomes the primary focus. Throughout this section, recurring imagery of fire, suffocation, storms and imprisonment reflects the author's deteriorating emotional and psychological state.

In Phoenix, the collection shifts towards resistance and survival. The narrative begins a recognition of the reality of the relationship, confronting  the gap between the person they loved and the harm that has occurred and taking the first steps towards reclaiming autonomy. After Burn focuses on the aftermath of separation, exploring grief, longing, trauma and the loss of both the relationship and the future that had once been imagined.

The final section, Clarity, considers recovery from a position of greater distance and understanding. The poems reflect on memory, accountability, self-worth and the process of rebuilding a life after trauma. Rather than presenting healing as complete or linear, the collection acknowledges its ongoing nature while emphasising the possibility of renewed identity and hope.

Written in free verse and combining lyric, confessional and narrative modes, Living Through the Fire uses the structure of a fire's life cycle to examine the psychological dynamics of abusive relationships and the complexities of survival. The collection contributes to contemporary conversations surrounding coercive control, domestic violence and recovery while exploring broader themes of love, loss, identity, resilience and transformation.