Limerence

by Asha Walker

Asha Walker is an emerging voice in contemporary poetry, whose debut poetry collection Limerence has captivated readers with its unique metaphors and lyrical prowess.

Limerence, published in 2024 has been praised for its unflinching examination of romantic obsession and the blurred lines between love and infatuation. Walker’s unique voice blends traditional forms with experimental structures creating a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshingly new.

Excerpt from the

"Love is the ground beneath the tracks

solid, steady, there even when the ride stops



what we had was a carnival attraction

thrilling, yes, but designed to end



I realized too late that I’d been chasing a ghost

trying to turn a hologram into a home



the come-down was brutal

withdraws from a drug called “you”

shakes, sweats, regrets, as i tried to reassemble my identity from the pieces I’d left scattered at your feet



Now I’m in recovery learning to differentiate between love and its many doppelgangers."

Genres: Poetry

140 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Asha Walker emerges as a compelling new voice in contemporary poetry with her debut collection, "Limerence." Her writing style evokes a unique blend reminiscent of Rudy Francisco, Nikki Giovanni, and E. E. Cummings, offering readers a fresh perspective in verse.

A young Black female poet with a rich academic background, Asha holds multiple degrees in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Social Anthropology. Her professional experience in mental health, particularly working with neurodivergent adults, infuses her writing with depth, creativity and empathy.

Originally from the East Coast, Asha now calls Portland, Oregon home. When not crafting verses, she can be found hiking the Pacific Northwest trails, exploring various arts and crafts, painting, spending time with her family, and tending to her garden. A prolific writer beyond poetry, Asha has published multiple books on Shadow work, showcasing her interest in personal growth and self-reflection.

"Limerence" marks Asha's entry into the world of published poetry, promising readers a fresh perspective shaped by her unique experiences and multifaceted expertise.

Reviews

[Something about the name Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heard about this book from TikTok and saw it was available on kindle unlimited so I decided to check it out. I', honestly not much of a kindle person i prefer my books to be physical but I've had bad luck in the past with indie books so, yeahhh.. with that said, I'm going to go ahead and purchase the physical book because this is the best poetry book that I've read as an adult. It is so well done and the way the writer put the words together really painted a picture that I could see and fell. I won't lie, some of the poems really had me in my feelings DEEP. The poems" the physics of falling in love" and "limerence- a chemical analysis" are two of my favorites. oh and there's a whole soundtrack to the book!!!!!!! how cool is that. theres a scan code in the back that takes you right to spotify to listen to all of the songs mentioned in the book. i thought that was awesome.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently reading, and I'll update my review when i finish. So far, the book is amazing and i have no doubt it'll continue to be. I don't normally like themed poetry books cause it seems repetitive but the way the author writes each poem to show the different facets of limerence is :: chef's kiss:: and the playlist is a real nice vibe, I've added all the song to my playlist especially that first one. I never even heard of the artist Emmanuel but I'm now a fan. I don't know if that was the intent to put the readers on to new artist but if so the author succeeded.

[Lakesha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm the dopamine dealer on the corner of limerence lane selling hits of hope to my own addicted brain" oohwee!!!! THIS IS THE ONE!!!!! I'm almost done reading through the book and about halfway through the playlist (Fire playlist!). This is the kinda poetry you can re-read multiple times, the kind of poetry that you can pass down and that everyone can get something from. This ain't one of those poetry books that you read a couple of poems from it and put it down. you gonna want to keep reading, and then you gonna want to talk about what you read.

[Marimer Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can we talk about the metaphors?!!!! Dope 👌🏾. I haven't read poetry this good in a long time, something that i can relate to that isn't all sappy and unrealistic. BRING BACK BLACK POETS 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. This book is beautiful. It's beautifully written, beautifully delivered, esthetically beautiful and that playlist 🙌🏿. Definitely scan the playlist at the end of the book. 10/10 issa vibe. I found this book through a fb group and I'm so glad i checked it out.

[Toccara Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An addictive read! From the metaphors to the curated playlists, it sparks a hunger for more. I literally couldn’t put it down. There’s just something about a book that makes you think about and feel what you’re reading. I look forward to the rest of this collection!

[Hope Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the author was able to stay to one topic "Limerence" and create poems that were still so uniquely composed. I connected with every stanza personally. Asha Walker is a metaphorically genius!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a master piece! I was trying to pick one poem that would be my favorite but I can’t it was just that good. I am somewhat new to the LGBTQ+ world as I came out at 26 and married my first girlfriend so I can definitely relate to these poems.

[Portia Mcbain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its giving spoken word!! It's giving "damn, that was deep". It's giving " I felt that". 10/10. I would love to buy the physical book, hopefully the author releases one.

[Citri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this love?
Are you falling too?

Lovely volume of poetry that will kick up long lost feelings of the heart. I loved the creative addition of a playlist to listen to while reading.