Induction: poems for my new daughter

by Colleen Alles

This chapbook traces one woman’s journey to and through new motherhood, from when she first discovers she is pregnant (“Houseguest”) to when she struggles to keep an energetic toddler away from the dog’s water bowl (“Sixteen Months”). With poignancy and precision, Alles captures the emotions that accompany bringing new life into the world, from the terrifying fear of losing that baby (“Early Spring”) to the joyful disruptions infants cause (“Induction”), and all the emotions in between.

Alles, an award-winning author, shares her hard-to-put-into words experiences as a new mom in this thoughtful assemblage of poems. Composed in a sleepless, dreamy haze, these lines are the heart of what it means to enter the world of parenthood.

“Lullaby,” included in the chapbook, was selected as the Poetry Society of Michigan’s 3rd place finisher in the society’s annual poetry contest (category: anaphoric poems) in August of 2016. It also appears in the Fall 2016 issue of Peninsula Poets: Contest Edition (73-2).

A former teacher, Alles currently works at a public library in West Michigan to best share her love of all things books. Her fiction and poetry have appeared in Red Cedar Review, Peninsula Poets, Cardinal Sins, Write Michigan 2016 Anthology, and others. In 2016, her short story "Fifth Circle" won the Readers' Choice award in the Kent District Library's annual Write Michigan short story contest. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Wayne State University. She writes when she has time (and when no one else is home).

Genres: Poetry

34 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2018

About the author

Michigander, librarian, wannabe writer.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve finished reading this book! But, I’ll go back to it again and again, and already have. There are so many lovely moments (many of the kind a mother and child would like to extend and exist in for longer than the flash of time life allows). Here, Alles handles those moments in just the right way, with exacting language and careful pacing, inviting the reader into the private space and love between a mother and her daughter. Just beautiful.

[Jennifer Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Laundry” must be my favorite. I read it many times; so moving.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely chapbook of poems to be read on a deliciously slow morning or evening. I found it was the perfect length for my bus commute downtown. Sweet, meditative collection by a mother to her young daughter. Without being repetitive or too sweet. The language and forms hold up. Thank you for a nice few moments.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read each poem multiple times before moving onto the other. Every single entry in this collection captures the raw emotions of unparalleled love and longing of the author. It’s a wonderful gift for a mother and a collection I highly recommend.