James V the Poet
Purple Rose
The Stars Carry Her Name —
Letters from Me to Her
is a collection of 33 love letters written in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a woman living there. His writing is rooted in heavy metaphor and soliloquy, painting a world of cathedrals, demons, angels, stars, and memories reflected in mirrors. James V speaks of his muse as something beyond ordinary beauty—an angelic and divine presence who dances amongst the stars: his Purple Rose.
Before his Purple Rose and he sadly parted ways, only a handful of these letters could be sent. James V believes the door to her has closed in this lifetime, but he also believes he is not bound to this life alone, and neither is his love for her. So he published these letters so that, in the next lifetime, she will know how deeply she was—and still is—loved.
With no prior knowledge of the language, James V also hand-translated a handful of poems into Tagalog for her, as it is one language within her heritage—a gesture meant to show that love is willing to learn the language of the heart in every form it can.
In the years to come, this collection stands as the emotional foundation of a larger dark fantasy series still unfolding. The same themes of devotion, longing, destiny, and eternal return will continue through future works.
James V takes it a step further with his pledge:
VOTUM
Latin — “a vow or sacred promise; a solemn pledge offered to the divine.”
“I have found you in lifetimes before.
I may not have you in this one,
but we’ll find each other again in the next.”
— James V The Poet
Reviews
Wonderful and heartwarming.
I don’t read poems that often, but I enjoyed this a lot. You can feel the love and the feeling of losing someone ooze out of each line. Very well written.
Losing someone yet making sure it is something that will never be forgotten.”
Poems reviewed: “Four Purple Roses in a White Box,” “Cathedral,” and “My Eyes Touched an Angel – II.”
— Poker | Artist & Animator |
Contact: IG – @pokerdoesart
This poem quickly became one of my favorites because it captures a struggle so many people face in today’s society. It shows how easy it is to fall—to get dragged into deeper waters by our own doubts, vices, or mistakes. But it also reminds us that redemption isn’t passive; healing demands awareness, action, and the courage to rise again. A powerful reflection on reclaiming control of your life.”
Poem reviewed: “The Demon Named Vitium”
— Bruno Pucci | MMA Fighter /BJJ Two-Time World Champion / Entrepreneur / Co-author of “United We Rise” (2025)
With ‘The Demon Named Vitium,’ James V picks apart the very meaning of identity with a compassion and care that is willing to destroy everything that might lie in its path. To me, the amazing aspect of this poem is the way it can shift its direction — from tragedy to triumph — without any disruption to its momentum. It moves like a freight train with the nimbleness of trained ballet.”
Poem reviewed: “The Demon Named Vitium.”
— Sky Shachory | Vocalist & Songwriter
for the musical duo “Less Sky” |
Contact: IG – @less.sky.official
As I read The Demon Named Vitium, I was reminded of two things. First, the struggle that we all face, and how we respond to it. Secondly, it reminded me of a modern-day Pilgrim’s Progress, and the path we take.”
Poem reviewed: “The Demon Named Vitium”
— James IV | Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.) / Business Owner & Entrepreneur
Author
James V The Poet
James V The Poet is an active-duty U.S. Navy Diver and indie author based in Honolulu. His debut poetry collection, Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name – Letters from Me to Her, is raw, unfiltered, and rooted in love and loss. His honesty turns memory into art, letting grief comfort readers as his pen speaks plainly on the page.
“A crackle of lightning tore across the sky—
and that’s when I saw her,
a light falling from heaven wrapped in wings.”
— James V the Poet
Articles
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