What Remains

Ugly wisdom doesn't apologize. It doesn't bow, and it doesn't break. What Remains is the debut spoken-word collection from H.B. Knycole and the opening volume of the What Remains Saga. A voice forged through scars, silence, and fire. These poems are not gentle whispers. They are declarations. This collection confronts manipulation, obedience, and the cost of swallowing your truth. From The Rice That Lied to I Choose Violence, each piece strips illusion down to bone and asks a dangerous question: What is left when you stop surrendering yourself to survive? These poems speak to those who were taught to be good, quiet, grateful, and small—and who paid for it with their voice. To those who endured gaslighting disguised as love, silence sold as virtue, and strength demanded without protection. What Remains is not about healing that makes you palatable. It is about sovereignty. About choosing yourself when no one claps. About naming the fire you walked through—and claiming what survived it. If you have ever wondered who you would be without the masks, the apologies, or the obedience, this book does not comfort you. It tells you the truth.