Poetry that bleeds, heals, and speaks truth.
✨ About the Book
Before I Lie is a debut poetry collection from Dralandra Larkins. It is a lyrical testimony shaped by both personal survival and collective reckoning. This collection is a mosaic of poems, affirmations, art illustrations, and short stories that bear witness to the scars we inherit and the healing we dare to choose. From Black girlhood in South Minneapolis to the frontlines of self-worth, spirituality, and resistance, this book offers an intimate and powerful portrait of what it means to rise from silence. Available now in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats.
Art illustration from "Before I Lie" in the poem "Walking Altars"
I dress this body
like the altar it’s always been.
We take diamonds
and press them to our teeth,
tattoo them in our mouths
so, we gleam when we speak.
Grins like a crescent moon....
So, if I come through with a twist-out,
a gold grill,
a waist bead,
a septum ring—
silver.
A whole damn altar on my body—
just know:
This ain’t a costume, baby—
I’m not dressed up for you.
This is history in gold—
carved from copper, shells, and wood...
(read the full poem in "Before I Lie")
Book Reviews
" I picked up this book at a local reading, and Dralandra is so talented! Her poetry and stories in this collection are thought-provoking, rhythmic, and insightful. Highly recommend!" - Amy, Minnesota
Revealing is Healing
Intuitive Energy Healer
As an intuitive empath and highly sensitive person, I understand the transformative power of sharing personal stories. My goal is to create a supportive community where individuals can connect and inspire each other through their experiences.