Don't Wait to Light the Candles

**READ BY THE AUTHOR From viral spoken word poet and author of The Rose That Blooms in the Night, a luminous new collection for fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade that explores themes of mindfulness, love, grief, and the strength it takes to be soft.** “Allie's poetry doesn’t just speak, it holds up a mirror. With raw truth and quiet grace, her words cut through the noise and pull you home to yourself.”—Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of On Purpose 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 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. Do not despair about Who the world wants you to be, The world was never watching. Exit stage left And send away your scripts. The best lives Are the ones worth disapproving of— Footprints in the sand washed away So no one can follow. The only thing worse than a mistake, Is a person too careful to make them.