A Socially Acceptable Breakdown

Placeholder author icon
By Patrick Roche ’14

Published Oct. 19, 2021

Roche’s debut poetry collection, A Socially Acceptable Breakdown (Button Poetry), draws on the struggle of coping with emotions and experiences that may not be fully accepted in society — like mental illness, grief, sexuality, and more — and learning to dismantle the stigma surrounding them.

Paw in print

Image
The February 2026 cover of PAW, featuring a photo of Joseph Nye.
The Latest Issue

February 2026

Lives Lived & Lost in 2025, Saying ’yes’ to more housing; AI startup stars