Leave It in the Rice Field
Leave It in the Rice Field is Jameel Haiat's third collection of poetry and art. It is a book that gives readers a glimpse into the heart and mind of the author with candid and emotional words that are embellished with images of his original art work.
Each chapter within the book offers words that reflect his perspective on his personal traumatic life experiences, including his journey through cancer, his loving relationship with his wife Hilcia, his outlook of life in Thailand, and the state of American politics.
From the author, "If I can connect, inspire or touch even just one person through my words and art, then I can call myself accomplished."
Reviews -
"We all carry some form of pain is one of the initial lines in this poetry book. It is the baseline that makes us all human and the one thing we all have in common. We can try to hide or mask it, but it's there. This book is a meditation on that thesis. Between the poems, the author's artwork is seamlessly interlaced, which also become meditations in a visual way. Pain. Endurance. Where we find grace and love. Our current times. Jameel deals with it it all, no sugar-coating, then leaves it in the rice field and invites us to go along that journey with him."
"I really enjoyed this new collection of poetry from Jameel Haiat. The poems explore a wide range of emotions and experiences, from social and political reflections to deeply personal moments of vulnerability. Two pieces that especially resonated with me were “Land of the Free,” which confronts difficult historical truths, and “Feel Me,” a touching reminder of the enduring power of love, art, and memory. Interwoven throughout the collection is beautiful artwork that complements the poetry, creating a thoughtful balance between word and image. The artwork captures both the blur of memory and the vibrancy of the present through rich colors and expressive compositions. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys poetry that challenges the mind, stirs the heart, and invites reflection. 5/5 stars!"
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Cum Dumpster Fire
Penned from a deeply personal perspective, Cum Dumpster Fire, was written as Jameel battled laryngeal cancer, during treatment as well as in his ongoing recovery, and dealt with the trauma and anguish of this dark disease. This touching book combines short and long form poetry while giving a fresh, diverse and contemporary voice to trauma, love, family, politics and urban life.
Interspersed throughout are his poignant watercolor paintings that reflect the moving words on the pages.
Reviews -
"Some books whisper. Others scream. This one sets itself on fire and dares you to watch. Cum Dumpster Fire is raw, unfiltered, and emotionally explosive—a brutally honest journey through trauma, love, loss, survival, and self-discovery. Jameel Haiat doesn’t just write poetry; he bleeds it onto the page with fierce vulnerability and dark humor, making you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you understood about pain and healing.
This book isn’t for the faint-hearted—it’s for the real, the raw, the ones who’ve fought battles both visible and invisible. If you’ve ever felt broken, lost, or silenced, Cum Dumpster Fire will remind you that you’re still here, still standing, still powerful."
"In Cum Dumpster Fire, Jameel harnesses his tumultuous life experiences and cultural heritage to deliver a powerful collection of poems that are as unsettling as they are enlightening. This second poetry book follows his debut, Life Edited - Pain. Pleasure. Perspective., and dives deeper into his personal narrative, exploring the interplay of pain and beauty, despair and hope. The title itself—a stark, unapologetic proclamation—sets the tone for a work that does not shy away from the uncomfortable or the controversial."
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Life Edited - Pain. Pleasure. Perspective.
Life Edited - Pain. Pleasure. Perspective is a collection of poems and spoken word in remembrance of childhood loss and pain, love lost and gained, perspectives and musings of our world today.
It's a look in the mirror and a reflection upon what hurts, heals and makes us human.
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