Love is a profound emotion felt by almost everyone, in one of its countless forms. It may be the passion between lovers, the tenderness of a mother for her child, or the quiet devotion between parent and daughter. Yet there are those who have never known the joy of love returned, whose brief sparks faded before finding expression. The poems in Ecstasy & Ashes explore love's many guises: its ecstasy and ache, its fire and stillness, its longing and loss. They celebrate the joy of connection and the sorrow of separation, tracing love's journey from flame to ash.