Tony Robles, a Western North Carolina poet, has released his fifth poetry collection, Soup for the Storm. Deeply rooted in lived experience, the collection bears witness to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the resilience of the community Robles calls home.

“This collection is based on my experiences and observations as someone who witnessed Hurricane Helene and its impact on the community—particularly my mobile home community in Hendersonville,” Robles said. “I saw people come together to build community in the aftermath. I felt, as a poet, that it was my obligation to be a witness and to document this tragedy and how the people I lived near and beyond dealt with it.”
In this new collection, that blend takes on fresh intensity. “It is my hope that Soup for the Storm provides the sustenance to reflect on the tragedy and perhaps come away with something that resembles beauty despite it,” Robles said.

The book will resonate with poetry readers and with anyone still processing the impact of Hurricane Helene. Through spare, observant verse, Robles offers not only testimony but also nourishment—words as comfort, words as record.

A portion of the proceeds from the collection will be donated to organizations providing relief to Hurricane Helene survivors.