This is the poem’s central image. Letters—physical, tactile artifacts—are not practical sources of information. One does not read old letters for news or logistics. Taplin selects “letters” because they are relics of intimacy. The act of reading them is a private, archaeological dig into a dead language of affection. Crucially, the verb is present habitual: “I still read.” This implies a compulsive, almost addictive cycle. The speaker is not remembering fondly; they are administering a controlled dose of the past. The letters are a known quantity; they contain no surprises, only predictable echoes of a self that no longer exists. This is not curiosity. It is a ritual of self-harm.
: He is known for dissecting singular, relatable emotions through "Instapoetry"—short, aesthetically pleasing snippets often shared on platforms like Major Works : His popular collections include Worlds of You Buried Light Philosophy beau taplin the awful truth
“It’s a strange loneliness, knowing exactly what’s wrong and being unable to explain it to anyone who hasn’t felt it.” This is the poem’s central image
Since its release, the poem has become a staple of "social media poetry," garnering tens of thousands of notes on platforms like Tumblr and Instagram . It is frequently cited by readers going through breakups or navigating long-lost loves because it validates the intensity of their past feelings without requiring a "happy ending". Taplin selects “letters” because they are relics of
The work explores the distinction between a person who changes your soul and the person who stays by your side daily. The Transience of Love:
The awful truth is that sometimes the person you love will be the person who teaches you the worst lessons. They will teach you how fragile your heart is. They will teach you how loud your fears can be. They will teach you that forgiveness is a muscle you must exercise until it becomes reflex, or until it snaps.