When Emotions Unfold One Layer at a Time
Peelin’ the Onion by Melva T. L. Smith is a heartfelt collection that walks gently through love, longing, faith, pain, and healing. Rather than telling one continuous story, the book offers moments of reflection that feel personal and familiar, like memories surfacing one by one. Each poem reveals another emotional layer, reminding readers how deeply human experiences are often shared, even when lived quietly.
Through simple yet expressive language, Smith captures the fragile strength behind dreams, relationships, and spiritual trust. The poems move naturally between hope and heartbreak, confidence and doubt, showing how growth often comes from facing life honestly. One early reflection encourages readers to “Dream big… stay strong… it’s your dream… be proud,” setting the tone for a journey rooted in resilience and self-belief.
Finding Meaning in Love, Loss, and Faith
At its core, this collection is about emotional truth. The poems explore intimacy, loneliness, forgiveness, identity, and the quiet presence of God in moments of struggle. Some pieces feel tender and romantic, while others speak from places of grief or spiritual surrender, creating a rhythm that mirrors real life rather than perfect storytelling.
What makes the book resonate is its honesty. There is no attempt to sound distant or overly poetic. Instead, the voice feels close and sincere, inviting readers to sit with their own memories and emotions. It becomes less about reading poetry and more about recognizing pieces of yourself in the lines.
A Voice Rooted in Reflection and Faith
Melva T. L. Smith and her family raised a variety of animals and went on many camping trips when she was a child. She loves to dance, sing, write, laugh, draw, listen to music, meditate, act, and sculpt. She has a BA in Communications and is certified in massage therapy.
Smith writes with a sincerity that feels lived rather than imagined. Her poetry does not rely on complicated language or distant symbolism. Instead, it speaks in a clear and heartfelt tone that mirrors everyday thoughts, quiet prayers, and deeply personal memories. This grounded style allows readers to move through themes of love, struggle, resilience, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal without feeling overwhelmed. The emotions arrive naturally, the way real feelings do in life, sometimes soft and comforting, other times raw and searching.
Peelin’ the Onion
A quiet reminder that every layer we uncover brings us closer to healing.
Coming soon, and worth the wait.
