Publications for Purchase
The Walking Tall Journal (Blue Cactus Press, 2025)
The “Walking Tall” Journal offers writers and creatives the ideal space to capture multidisciplinary works in progress, such as creative writing, visual art, or philosophical musings. Featuring three sections of lined, dotted, and blank pages, respectively, this multidisciplinary tool gives creatives the flexibility they need to seamlessly flow from one artform to another.
Available now through Blue Cactus Press! Purchase here.
The Art of Naming My Pain, 2nd edition (Blue Cactus Press, 2024)
A collection of poetry, prose, and collage by Kellie Richardson
In an era of highly curated personas and unrealistic self-expectation, Kellie Richardson offers readers a stunningly honest account of her struggles with identity, relationships, mental health and self-love. The Art of Naming My Pain collects Richardson’s poetry, essays and art as she navigates what it is for a Black, queer, broken women to seek joy in a world that says she doesn’t deserve it. This book is an unfolding of her journey, bearing witness to the possibility of life after self-loathing. Richardson’s voice is refreshingly candid in this sophomore collection, shedding light on issues we all face, though few have the courage to own in the public sphere.
Available now through Blue Cactus Press! Purchase here.
What Us Is (Blue Cactus Press, 2020)
A collection of poetry and prose by Kellie Richardson
In her debut poetry collection, Richardson turns herself inside out to let others know they’re not alone. There are other humans out there
burning alive
praying for relief
pulling weeds
running fast
waiting for flight.
Available now through Blue Cactus Press! Purchase here.
Poetry Sample and Musings
Float
You will not be consumed
by this ocean,
by the salt or sulphur of hate,
or your weighed tears.
I am here-
Not to be a savior
but to be a shore.
Your breath will not be taken,
by the next wave of hate,
by the lies that even
you bought, and then taught.
You will not perish
in the grip of smiling dragons
or the monsters in your ears.
I am watching,
never waiting on invitation,
cherishing the part I play.
I am the witness
to your wonderous heart
to the hope you gave away
in desperation.
I am holding it for you,
away from the wind,
safe from harm.
You are not forgotten
by Creator’s creator,
by the hope of sunrise.
You are still innocent
and soft,
and deserving of beauty,
of the mercy of beginnings.
I too weeped
the day, the minute, the instance
when the light of hope escaped you,
when the trusted failed you.
I heard you wail,
there in the darkness.
You were never alone.
I am resolved
to flood my blood
into your broken heart.
I will keep us afloat.
Keep us afloat.
Float, dear heart.
Float.
Sweet Shot in the Arm
Lean into your life.
Turn and strain and reach
towards whatever beauty you can find,
the way the poppies stalk the sun.
Squeeze the possibility out of the pain.
Eat bright things.
Bite down and crunch and slurp.
Devour them like your last breath,
like the very last sunset.
Don’t be fooled:
The light of life will set on your
face whether you
smile or snarl,
so be clever and wise
and generous with your kisses,
be silly and extravagant
in the chances you take.
Ask for forgiveness
and give it too.
You’re special,
and hurting,
and you are still
and always
and never the only one.
We can heal each other quietly
while we breathe and bleed.
So why not love me?
Why not let the hem out
of the poison you’ve carried
with you all this time?
Trust the the earth
to do it’s work
and bury your burden.
It was never yours anyhow.
© Kellie Richardson, 2020
