New Poetry Collection "What Love Leaves Behind" Transforms Grief Into Universal Connection

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Timed to her late father's birthday, Karen Hansen's debut poetry collection What Love Leaves Behind is released by Pine & Sea press.  A work born of loss, it is shaped by universal themes of love, memory, and connection.

The collection offers an intimate meditation on mourning through the lens of a daughter, capturing the enduring ache of losing a parent. Through poems that span legacy and love, Hansen gives form to what many struggle to articulate: how grief reshapes us, how presence lingers, and how love endures beyond absence.

"I was trying to withstand the weight of losing my dad," Hansen says. "Writing became the only way I could hold what felt too big to carry. The poems became a kind of record - not just of loss, but of love, remembrance, and the effort to keep something meaningful intact. I hope they offer a point of connection for others moving through their own grief, because while loss is deeply personal, it's also something we all eventually carry."

Structured in four stages: shock of loss, ache of memory, weight of bereavement, and resilience of love, What Love Leaves Behind offers readers a journey through the evolving face of grief. Each piece is paired with full-page photography, offering readers an intimate and accessible reflection on grief, memory, and enduring connection. Written in clear, lyrical, and approachable language, Hansen's debut is for readers of poetry, memoir, and reflective literature who seek beauty, comfort, and recognition in the face of grief.

At the heart of the collection is the poem Time Didn't Ask, first shared at her father's funeral. Another poem, No Plan, Just Love, distills the book's essence in a single line:  "There was no plan, just love. And it carried us."

In gratitude for the care her family received, a portion of the proceeds will support hospice care, honoring the compassion that brings dignity, comfort, and peace at the end of life.

Published by Pine & Sea Press and distributed in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle formats on Amazon, What Love Leaves Behind is a powerful companion for anyone who has experienced loss. In a world that often falls silent in the face of grief, this collection speaks with quiet strength.

About Pine & Sea Press
Pine & Sea Press is a literary publisher specializing in poetry collections that connect with readers through authentic voice and lasting impact.

About the Author
Karen Hansen is a D.C.-area communications professional who has spent her career giving voice to leaders, organizations, and cultural moments. What Love Leaves Behind is her first published book, written in honor of her late father.

Publication Details
What Love Leaves Behind
By Karen Hansen
Published by Pine & Sea Press, distributed by Amazon
Release Date: October 2, 2025
Paperback | 6x9 | ISBN: 9798294583064 | $16.99 USD
https://www.amazon.com/What-Love-Leaves-Behind-collection/dp/B0FQLKG9ZP 

SOURCE Pine & Sea Press