you still have yourself: poems and reflections (Atria/Primero Sueno Press) - Softcover

Samalot, Fernando

Softcover

ISBN 10: 166808936X ISBN 13: 9781668089361

Publisher: Atria/Primero Sueno Press, 2026

Synopsis

A spectacular, tenderhearted poetry debut that is also “a valuable tool on your personal growth journey” (Yung Pueblo, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

“What do you have left after losing everything you know?”

You’ve been told that it’s the cumulative impact of everything you’ve built: home, relationships, career, health, community.

But the truth is much deeper.

In you still have yourself, debut poet Fernando Samalot shares a contemplative collection of poems and reflections that follows an inner journey through loss, transformation, and return.

As the poet writes,

“The best thing I ever did for my heart
was allow myself
to begin again”

Set within both inner and natural landscapes, the book moves through forests, rain, nightfall, dawn, and shifting light, using nature as a living mirror for impermanence, healing, and renewal.

“Samalot’s debut poetry collection paves the way for humanness in a way that we don’t see often anymore. He has made triumph romantic and the process of healing? Entirely possible” (Brianna Pastor, author of Good Grief).

About this title

About the Author

Fernando Samalot is a Puerto Rican poet, photographer, and audiovisual artist. Rooted in lyrical presence and emotional honesty, his writing explores the relationship between light and darkness, unconditional love, grief, vulnerability, trust, and surrender, honoring the inner work of becoming and the quiet wisdom gained through loss and transmutation. A devoted believer in the healing power of art, he shares his inner world in hopes of creating connection and inviting readers into something deeper within themselves: a sacred place inside us, where our love is safe to grow. You can follow his writing and art journey at @FernandoSamalot. 

From the Back Cover

A spectacular, tender-hearted poetry debut.

“What do you have left after losing everything you know?”

You’ve been told that it’s the cumulative impact of everything you’ve built: home, relationships, career, health, community.

But the truth is much deeper.

In you still have yourself, debut poet Fernando Samalot shares a contemplative collection of poems and reflections that follows an inner journey through loss, transformation, and return.

All of these live inside of you: where wisdom resides.

The Lover, who moves us through awe, devotion, and presence

The Melancholic, who descends into grief, shadow, and solitude

The Sage, who gathers wisdom through lived experience

The Elder, who reflects on life from a future vantage point shaped by memory and meaning.

Together, these voices form a layered portrait of a self in motion rather than a singular protagonist.

Set within both inner and natural landscapes, the book moves through forests, rain, nightfall, dawn, and shifting light, using nature as a living mirror for impermanence, healing, and renewal.

As the narrative deepens, what initially feels like fragmentation becomes integration. The journey resolves not with certainty or closure, but with presence. In returning again and again to the self, the book reveals its central truth: even when everything familiar falls away, there is strength, healing, and quiet power in having oneself.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atria/Primero Sueno Press
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 166808936X
• ISBN 13: 9781668089361
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288