A poetry workshop to celebrate Black History Month at Kingston University led to the formation of Kindred Spirits, a poetry group comprised of students from multiple faculties, all with one thing in common: the need to express themselves through the written word. Streams of Consciousness is the first anthology published by this talented group.

While each author writes about subjects that fire their personal passions, universal themes run through their work; loneliness, love, joy, and the importance of family shine through each page, providing common ground despite the authors' diverse backgrounds. Some choose to tackle larger social issues, while others explore the complexities of familial relationships and the expectations of parents. All are powerful works. All are sincere.

Edgy and innovative, Streams of Consciousness refuses to mince words, with each author believing authenticity is key to true expression. Several of the poems found within are collaborations with award-winning poets Deanna Rodgers (UK Poetry Slam Champion) and Sabrina Mahfouz (The Clean Collection). The moving force behind the poems, however, is the students themselves, whose voices do what poetry does best - mirror back life in all its inspiring, messy, contradictory glory.