you were born
from ancient mountains
rocks made of starstuff
which pushed themselves
up through the ocean
well before life grew legs
Selected lines from “antifragile” by Kayla Nichols
The Stuff of Stars
Kayla’s debut collection of poetry, written over the course of thirteen years, takes readers into the very marrow of what it means to be a person. Exploring those things which make, unmake, and rebirth us, these poems peer through a perspective grounded in Appalachian and queer culture and wrestles with the juxtapositions therein.
My story
Kayla Nichols is a writer, advocate, and community builder with deep roots in Appalachia’s Central Highlands. She weaves stories that inspire and ignite positive change and deeper connection.
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