"A poetry memoir forged in the aftermath of stroke and aphasia—an unflinching testament to the will to never give up"
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story (drawn from A Cry in the Dark) is a deeply moving and profoundly inspiring collection that offers readers a wellspring of meaning and reflection. More than a compilation of poems, it is a poetic memoir—an intimate chronicle of resilience born from a true and daunting journey.

From the opening pages, thunderstroke is defined as “the moment when life shifts irrevocably, altering its course in a single, cataclysmic instant.” That instant upended Terence Ang’s world—health compromised, daily life transformed—and ushered in the daily challenge of aphasia. Through poetry, he traces a path from devastation to acceptance, from darkness to light, capturing the transformation with exquisite clarity.

The book unfolds across three sections—A Cry in the Dark, Thunderstroke, and The Light—each marking a distinct phase: descent, reckoning, and renewal. Evocative and unflinchingly honest, these poems draw readers into the experience while reflecting their own struggles back to them. Ang’s verse becomes both mirror and guide, leading us through shadow toward the quiet strength beyond suffering.

Ultimately, Thunderstroke speaks to the human capacity for endurance. With lucid simplicity and deep heart, it offers companionship in doubt, clarity in confusion, and a steady hand along life’s unpredictable path.