“A dreamy debut collection.”

—Olivia Ho for The Straits Times

“Topaz Winters writes of the many different kinds of longing in the tenderest, most stunning ways. She longs for quiet, for girlhood, for the chance to forget and the chance to remember. This collection feels like home for so many that want and bloom in the same way that Topaz does—it’s comforting, in that we have someone describing what we may have never had the words for. poems for the sound of the sky before thunder gives the reader permission to try and find beauty even in the ugliest parts of their life. Chances like that are always opportune.”

—Lyd Havens, author of Chokecherry

“topaz winters writes in a way only someone who is well-acquainted with sorrow & hurt can—whether it is pain we receive or pain we produce (willingly or unwillingly). it feels so eerily familiar and at the same time, it doesn’t. like reading my own written thoughts and feelings, but through its reflection on a mirror. what a healing experience it is to read this in the way healing feels like pouring alcohol on an open wound.”

—Livvy, reader

“Everything Winters writes makes me feel like she is a long-lost friend of mine. She frames her experiences in delicate terms that bite when I least expect it. I seem to have found bits of myself living alongside her words, which makes for the best kind of poetry.”

—Niya Kunal Patel, reader

“A remarkable poetry collection from a very talented young voice; doubly remarkable for the fact that the author is only 18 years old. Her writing is full of confidence and grace, and explores a variety of deep subjects in a sensitive way. Definitely a writer to watch, with a full career in front of her.”

—Jason Erik Lundberg, founding editor of LONTAR & author of Red Dot Irreal

“A simmering meditation on forgiveness, growth, and identity. I couldn’t bring myself to rush through these poems. Instead, I enjoyed revisiting the same piece a few times, at different times during the same day, often flipping back a few pages to seek out the connections between the piece I was currently reading and one from earlier. There is renewed strength and a different, sharper edge to Topaz Winters’ poems that I greatly enjoyed reading and I cannot wait to see what treasures she gives her readers in the future.”

—Margaryta Golovchenko, author of Pastries and Other Things History Has Tried to Choke Us With

“Delicate yet devastating. An impressive achievement.”

—Grace Chia, author of Mother of All Questions

“Where does one start with a collection as ephemeral as this? Topaz is a weather system in her own right throughout this book, manifesting in both the lightest of rainfalls and deadliest of storms. She writes with a wisdom beyond her years, acting as a very necessary bridge between the childlike joy of existence and the reality of settling into one's life. The poems here are honest, and soft—to read them feels like getting letters from an old friend. This book is both the thunder, and the space between it. For storm chasers and storm weatherers alike, these poems won't disappoint.”

—Caitlin Conlon, author of The Surrender Theory

“I’ve read many works attempting to capture the essence of girlhood as Winters has done—through love & loss, hurt & healing, light & dark—but none have done so as masterfully as she has. Topaz is a magician, a weaver of words into spells and songs that will carry you through the dark with whispers of light. There are so many reasons to love Topaz’s book. They write with such fierce tenderness and aching, and although the universe is large and full of sadness, they share it with you and manage to make it a little brighter.”

—Stephanie Tom, author of My Heart is a Mausoleum but Only Out of Necessity

“This book can, in theory, be read quickly; however, the poems are so beautiful and dense with feeling that readers will want to take their time with Topaz's words. This collection of poetry tells a cohesive story about mental illness, healing, and everything in between. Topaz experiments with form while staying true to her style, one that is refreshing and bold and so very, so heart-achingly honest. I started keeping track of my favorite lines before I realized that doing so would result in a list that was almost as long as the book. poems for the sound of the sky before thunder succeeds in what all good art should do: remind us that we are not alone.”

—Katie Gilgour, reader

“Winters does with words what no one else does. Boundless, elegant, somehow sharp and soft at the same time. I like to read poetry that has a kick to it, that leaves me feeling like I’ve been hit in the ribs sometimes. This book does just that. I for one have no idea how Winters writes these—how they write with such depth and care dedicated to each one. It is, in fact, astounding. Worth a read. Worth several reads. Worth a home on your bookshelf.”

—Sophie Falkenheim, reader

“I was going to try and choose a favourite poem but it's impossible to rank them; they all make me feel so deeply in their own ways. poems for the sound of the sky before thunder is beautiful, heartfelt, and touches on so many emotions I don't often allow myself to feel. I have no words. This book is a staple on my bookshelf and I often find myself flipping through the pages again and again. Topaz's voice pierces my soul and puts into words thoughts and feelings that I don't know how to convey myself.”

—Ashlee Culmsee, reader

“Winters’ collection is both the storm and the silver lining. It starts out well and keeps getting stronger with each poem. In these poems, I kept finding the reasons to stand back up and fight, amidst all the pain.”

—Jeremy Mifsud for Poetry by Jeremy