An empty plate, full

a note from the poet, a. jason alder:

in my 4th collection of poetry, i explored the masculine perspective of mental health, obviously as it pertains to my own experience. this collection is meant to be a fresh take on these issues. the hope is that those who read this small collection are empowered to talk about the mental health struggles that they face with those qualified to help. medical professionals, willing family & friends, religious leaders, & hotlines (to name a few resources) are there to help life become more manageable with the hand dealt to all of us. an empty plate, full is a bit more on the serious side, containing themes that can be triggering to some, some of which are: disordered eating, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and other mental health related topics. these themes and topics are dealt with artistically, but in the spirit of full disclosure, they are present.

i love you, and the world is a better place because you are here.