Corazón Coalesced, by Alexis Jaimes

Poetry, chapbook, 32 pages, from Bottlecap Features. Corazón Coalesced is the debut chapbook by Alexis Jaimes who weaves together the tender and the tumultuous, offering readers a journey through the struggles and beauty found in exploring love, identity, and heritage. With poems that dance between English and Spanish, the essence of growing up in an immigrant family is captured, painting a vivid portrait of a breaking family, an endeavor to recover one’s culture, and the relentless pursuit of healing. Jaimes' voice and imagery capture the essence of his experiences and those of his community, offering readers a window into a world where hope and resilience coalesce. The chapbook starts off with the themes of departure and the difficult journey towards emotional recovery throughout. This is expanded with the exploration of the intricacies of love and desire, juxtaposed with the stark reality of recurring disappointments. "finding freedom from your abusers is not cowardness" resonates a