Wounds

Wounds is a raw and poetic exploration of pain, healing, and identity by Congolese-born poet Gemima Longodjo. Written in the aftermath of personal and collective trauma, this collection gives voice to the silence surrounding mental health, especially within immigrant communities and cultures that often stigmatize emotional expression. Each poem is a scar, a whisper, a cry for understanding, revealing how wounds are not just injuries of the flesh, but of the soul. These verses travel through the landscapes of childhood, family, faith, migration, and mental illness with striking vulnerability. The pages echo the ache of being misunderstood, the pressure to be perfect, and the complicated love we carry for those who have both raised and hurt us. Originally written as a form of release-perhaps even a goodbye-Wounds transformed into a powerful testimony of survival. It is a book born from darkness, but guided by the will to live and transform that darkness into art. It speaks to the voiceless, the hurting, and the healing. This collection invites you to see yourself reflected in its truths, to honor your journey, and to believe in the power of writing, therapy, and inner courage. Whether you are navigating your healing or witnessing someone else's, Wounds offers a mirror to the resilience of the human spirit.