Don't Wait to Light the Candles

From viral spoken word poet and bestselling author of The Rose That Blooms in the Night, a luminous new collection for fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade that explores themes of mindfulness, love, grief, and the strength it takes to be soft.
“Allie's poetry doesn’t just speak, it holds up a mirror. With raw truth and quiet grace, her words cut through the noise and pull you home to yourself.”—Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of On Purpose
Keep your defiant joy. Keep your stubborn hope. Keep those childlike eyes—they are not childish, but a rebellion against despair.
In a world obsessed with productivity and perfection, Allie Michelle’s poetry is a radical invitation to slow down, soften, and come alive. With a voice both fierce and tender, she reminds us that beauty is not a reward—it’s a birthright.
Her newest collection, Don't Wait to Light the Candles, is a poetic call to presence: a celebration of small sacred moments, a reckoning with pain, and a spark for anyone learning to rediscover their joy and live with their whole heart.
This book is both balm and blaze—a place to land, and a push to rise.

Allie Michelle is a poet, writer, and co-founder of NFT school for mental health and wellness, We Are Warriors. She is a certified meditation, breathwork and yoga teacher, which has heavily influenced her work. She has done spoken word performances across the globe, continuing to share her work and inspire people to live vulnerably, love deeply, and create often. She is the author of the poetry collections Explorations of a Cosmic Soul, The Rose that Blooms in the Night, and The Words Left Unspoken.