Some lessons reveal themselves only after we've given away too much.
Despite every warning, the poet spent years offering pieces of herself where they could never be valued-mistaking sacrifice for investment, believing that devotion would one day return what it had cost. But pearls mean nothing to those who cannot recognize their worth, and the hard-earned truth settles in: a pig has no use for what it cannot understand.
As old patterns break and self-worth begins to take root, something unexpected happens. In the middle of rebuilding, she falls-suddenly, deeply, and without logic-into a connection that feels cinematic in its intensity. A kindred spirit, tied to someone she already considers family, pulls her into a love that challenges everything she thought she knew. With her heart divided, she must finally confront where it truly belongs-and whether she is still casting her pearls into places that cannot hold them.
Told with clarity and intention, this second chapter steps out of the chaos of the past and into a story ready to be told straight.
Pearls & Swine is J.L. Fizzell's second poetry collection. Inspired by the enduring adage "Don't throw your pearls to swine," it explores the cost of giving too much, the courage of reclaiming oneself, and the transformative power of recognizing one's own value. Continuing themes from Icarus, Anchors & You, this collection delves into love, self-worth, mental health, growth, and the brave work of choosing better for oneself.
Related Subjects
Poetry