Cigarette Butts in a Teacup

A Poetic Journey Through the Human ExperienceWhat happens when silence becomes too heavy to bear, and the only way forward is through words?In this unflinchingly honest poetry collection, Brandon Karl Hoffmann transforms the quiet desperation of pandemic isolation into a powerful exploration of what it means to be human in an uncertain world. Born from empty office spaces and sleepless nights, these poems navigate the turbulent waters of mental health, love, loss, and the relentless search for meaning in the mundane.
From the tender vulnerability of "Tender Love" to the crushing weight of "Rattling Depression, " Hoffmann's voice cuts through pretense with surgical precision. His words don't just describe experience-they inhabit it, pulling readers into moments both achingly familiar and startlingly revelatory. Whether capturing the electric anticipation of a first date, the suffocating grip of anxiety, or the quiet heroism of simply choosing to try again, each poem serves as both mirror and window.
Hoffmann's poetry doesn't offer easy answers or false comfort. Instead, it provides something far more valuable: the recognition that you are not alone in your struggles, and that even in our darkest moments, there is power in the simple act of continuing."I hope this collection allows you to connect to a deeper part of yourself and you come away with a desire to allow your emotions to be felt. Here's to growing, building, and becoming, whatever that may look like for you." -Brandon Karl HoffmannPerfect for readers of Rupi Kaur, Tyler Knott Gregson, and anyone seeking authentic voices in contemporary poetry.