Catharsis is the process of releasing strong emotions. The poems in this book have served as my catharses. They cover topics from love to death, and many things in between. Some of the poems are sad, and some are joyous. Some of them are thoughtful, and others are humorous. Through the process of writing the works presented here I have found ways to honor the memories of family and friends. I have also used the writing process to address several issues concerning love. I have touched upon the topics of friendship, survival, and introspection, among others. This book also contains some smiles in the form of short poems about light subjects. My hope is that, as you journey through these pages, you will find many smiles.