Steel Slides and Yellow Walls

by Alicia Swain

In Steel Slides and Yellow Walls, Alicia Swain navigates the labyrinthine journey women undergo to form their identities. Through a feminist lens and distinctive voice, her collection veraciously portrays the trials that forge women into sagacious, resilient adults. From contemplation of how to balance mental health despite knowing what tribulations are sure to come, to the title poem's exploration of how traumatic memories can continue to haunt in the most unexpected situations, Swain offers a look at the diverse experiences that mold women into the tenacious beings they are.

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

Published August 12, 2025

About the author

Alicia Swain (she/her) is the author of Steel Slides and Yellow Walls (Belle Isle Books, 2025). Her poems appear in publications such as Roanoke Review, the engine(idling, and Vast Chasm. Her piece titled “Return Me to the Womb,” published in FLARE Magazine, was nominated for Best of the Net 2026.