Ink & Insight with Atty. Madelyne Carsula Tolentino

Ink & Insight with Atty. Madelyne Carsula Tolentino

This collection was born from moments Atty. Madz felt most powerless—when self-doubt was louder than her own voice.

52 Weeks (And Beyond) is more than poetry; it’s a journey of showing up, even when it’s hard. A reminder that finding your voice isn’t a single moment of courage, but a practice of choosing yourself again and again.

Every poem challenged her to live the words she write—to embrace vulnerability, to grow, and to keep going.

Mich – What personal experiences or moments in your life most influenced the themes of empowerment in this collection?

Atty. Madz – This collection is deeply rooted in the moments I felt most powerless—times when I questioned my worth and let self-doubt take the lead. Knowing how paralyzing it is to feel like a stranger in your own universe, I felt driven to write about self-empowerment. The world needs more people who have found their strength and are ready to lift others.

Mich – How do you hope your poetry will impact readers who may be struggling with self-doubt or finding their voice?

Atty. Madz- ​For those silenced by self-doubt, this book is a reminder that finding your voice is a practice, not an event. By recognizing vulnerability as the first step toward strength, readers can see that empowerment isn’t a sudden burst of confidence—it’s the act of consistently showing up, week by week.

Mich – Was there a particular poem in this book that challenged you emotionally or creatively while writing it, and why?

Atty. Madz-Throughout the creation of 52 Weeks (And Beyond), I found that each poem served as a personal challenge. They forced me to confront the reality that even those who advocate for empowerment face moments where they must struggle to internalize their own message.

a dramatic exterior angle (same hotel)

#UrbanPhotography #StreetPhotography #Architecture #Hotel #HistoricBuildings

⚰️ The Crescent Hotel: The Crescent Hotel was once a mental hospital, carrying a dark and unsettling past. According to legend, a female patient leapt from the bal... 🧟👹⚱️⛪🕷️

https://hauntedlineage.com/directory/the-crescent-hotel/

#TheCrescentHotelSpirits #Haunting #Hotel #EurekaSprings #Arkansas

Took a shower this morning and found a long string of brown hair on my left shoulder after I wiped myself dry with the hotel bath towel..

I know it happens.. but still grossed me out a little bit..

#Traveling #Hotel

Regrets by Lynn White

Regrets by Lynn White

Regrets are best forgotten,
laid to rest in peace or 
in restless confusion.
Dump them with the other debris,
the detritus of the past
no longer needed.
They will be taken away in time, 
disposed of
in the future,
by the future.
Displaced by more things 
to regret
and forget.
And by more things to keep
and remember.

First published in Setu, February 2017

Image from:
https://unsplash.com/photos/tombstones-in-a-foggy-graveyard-at-cemetery-7EfkZvAzLQ0

Bio:

Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. She has been nominated for Pushcarts, Best of the Net and a Rhysling Award.  https://lynnwhitepoetry.blogspot.com  and https://www.facebook.com/Lynn-White-Poetry-1603675983213077/