A picture is worth a thousand words

My words paint a thousand pictures.

Check out my work

  • Poetry

    Janay Blakely's poetry looks at life through her unique lens that still offers insights that feel universal. From love and loss to resentment and self acceptance, Janay's poetry explores all the parts of life that touch us all.

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  • Children's Books

    Poets are people with boundless imaginations to play with and diverse life experiences to draw on.

    See how Janay creates a new world for children to explore.

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Forthcoming: Born of Thistles and Thorns

If a picture is worth a thousand words then a flower is worth a million. From yellow carnations for rejection and disappointment to deep red roses for love and passion; our environment will tell us endless stories if only we'll listen. Born of Thistles and Thorns shares with us human stories using nature as the pen. How do you deal with survivor's remorse? What do you when the one you love doesn't love you back? Where do our memories go as dementia over takes us? These themes and more are grappled with in the latest chapbook release from Miami based poet Janay Blakely. Come enter the forest, lay you cares by the riverside, and explore the world around you with fresh eyes. Here, only those born of thistles and thorns will survive.

“Though a gardener I am not, I will continue to cultivate the garden of self love until I can harvest and share its blooms.” -Janay Blakely

A reading of "The Gardener's Wife". This and other pieces can be found in the forthcoming book "Born of Thistles and Thorns"

Pages on the Floor: A Curated Poetry Collection

In her debut collection of poems, Miami based poet Janay Blakely explores the connections between language and our bodies, identities, and emotions. Pages on the Floor is a strikingly honest depiction of what it's like to be young African American woman in today's society. Written in a conversational tone, and with a voice that is at times confessional, sarcastic, or even funny, these relatable poems touch on topics such as race, family, love, self-discovery, and heartbreak.

My Feelings Are BIG!

My Feelings Are BIG! lets our kids know that everyone has big feelings from time to time (even adults). Feelings do not have to be both big and scary. They are a normal part of our day.

By introducing children to the idea that their big feelings are normal, we give them the tools to better process those feelings. My Feelings Are BIG! helps give children the beginning steps to understanding mental health in an easily digestible format. With bold colors for kids and an uplifting message that parents will love, My Feelings Are Big is an excellent addition to any book collection.

Thanks again and happy reading!