The Ones

by Kathleen Latham

An unflinching exploration of love, loss, and the myriad ways our past relationships shape us--from the rush of first love, through the disillusionment of failed love, to the quiet wonder of love that endures. With accessible language and an eye for detail, this collection chronicles how heartbreak echoes, how self-discovery evolves, and how our search for “the one” is never a straight line.

An internationally recognized flash fiction writer, Latham brings her storytelling mastery to the world of poetry with prose poems that read like stories and short verses that hit with surprising depth. Heartbreak isn’t trite, Latham argues, it’s human. “Write it down” she says, “even if the words you use/are arrows tipped with venom/only you can feel.”

“THE ONES left me spellbound.” (Jean Ryan, author of Survival Skills and Lovers and Loners)

76 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2024

About the author

Kathleen Latham's poems and short stories have appeared in multiple journals and anthologies. A Highly Commended winner of the prestigious Bridport Prize, she’s also won the Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition, the Web Microfiction Prize for Women Writers, and a Bath Flash Fiction Award. She’s been shortlisted or a finalist for the Bevel Summers Prize, a First Pages Prize, the Welkin Writing Prize, and for contests in Fish Flash Fiction, The Masters Review, New Flash Fiction Review, and The Southeast Review. Her debut poetry collection THE ONES was released by Kelsay Books in October, 2024. A native of Southern California, Kathleen now lives outside of Boston.

Reviews

[Barbara Waloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of poems. Broken into 3 main categories: The Ones Who Come First, The Ones Who Come Next, and The Ones Who Come Last. Each took me on a journey of experiences I’ve had or been a part of through my life so far. While reading this book I chuckled, nodded in agreement, made my UGH face, reread, shook my head, and closed my eyes to feel the moment. Very enjoyable trip down memory lane.

[Kate McMurray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Kathleen’s work, it was such a pleasure to read through a collection of her poems. It’s such a talent to be able to capture such a range of emotions through her poetry that struck me at my core and continued to impress me throughout.

I wanted to pick a favorite poem for this review but by the end I couldn’t pick just one - there were too many I loved for different reasons! Any fan of poetry / anyone who has experienced a human emotion will resonate with this book.

[Gabbie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book of poems, masterfully crafted & filled with the different faces, voices, and sides of love. For anyone who has loved and lost, felt broken-hearted, felt angry, felt wildly in love or something softer and more lasting, Latham’s book of poems artfully outlines small intersections of life and love. A must-read for all poetry lovers and readers alike.

[Kenzie Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a stunning book of heartfelt, hard hitting, thoughtfully organized and occasionally dryly funny poetry. You‘ll deeply relate to one poem, and learn something from another. Highly recommend this incredible work of art!

[Derek Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book did finally arrive. This is a very well written book about first love, failed love, heartbreak and much more. The author brings all this to the readers in beautiful poetry broken down into three categories. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Thank you for the opportunity of receiving this book. I have already passed it on.

[Grady Ormsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the chapbook The Ones by Kathleen Latham. I have an autographed copy given to me by my daughter last Christmas. There are forty-five poems in all, dealing with love from all angles: first love, early love, head-over-heels love, the often-unfulfilled potential of love, fading love, betrayal, heartbreak, parting, lasting love, and a bit of “get over it.” It’s well done and readable. There are some elusive poems and also several that are rather dense.

[cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful! Her poems read like stories and brought out emotions and memories I’d long forgotten! Can’t get these out of my mind! Powerful

[Robin Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful poems, brought back a lot of memories from my past. Loved it!

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Latham's poetry elicits unfiltered emotions of the winding journey through lust, loss, heartache, bliss, and the fatigue that creeps into every relationship. Each time I pick up this book, I'm transported back to a different episode in my love history. Highly recommend.