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The Salt in His Kiss: Poems
From the author of I Find You In the Darkness, a brand-new poetry collection about love, longing, and one woman's everlasting connection to the sea
My soul reminds me that
I am a Mermaid.
A woman who longs to be held by the sea...
Beloved contemporary poet Alfa is back with a collection of all-new poems celebrating strength and female empowerment. With more than 180 poems focusing on resilience, inner strength, and self-love, The Salt in His Kiss celebrates the fantastic creature inside every woman.
- GenresPoetry
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2019
22 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Alfa Holden
14 books309 followersAlfa is a writer of poetic thoughts. She holds degrees in English Literature as well as Radiologic Sciences.
From a wide-planked porch in Kentucky, Alfa is most likely indulging in ice tea while painting a furniture piece some fabulous shade of turquoise, or crafting something extraordinary out of vintage buttons and brooches.
From a wide-planked porch in Kentucky, Alfa is most likely indulging in ice tea while painting a furniture piece some fabulous shade of turquoise, or crafting something extraordinary out of vintage buttons and brooches.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 11, 2019
When I received "The Salt in his Kiss", I dropped everything just so I could once more dive into Alfa's words. With hot tea and a cool breeze, I submerged myself into waves of simple words describing complicated emotions, while nodding my agreement.
This is now front runner in my Alfa collection! Definitely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is now front runner in my Alfa collection! Definitely ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 25, 2021
I absolutely adore Alfa's works. Admittedly this is not my favourite collection of hers but a well written and beautifully versed collection all the same.
October 11, 2023
To be honest not the worst poetry book I’ve read by far but not really the greatest either it was interestingly the theme of ocean and mermaids but the ones that didn’t have it felt out of place and I felt some of the poems were a little bit too simple and it just fell kind of flat for me after a while there’s definitely an audience out there for it but I’m definitely not in that audience.
March 7, 2021
This was a pretty good poetry collection! I really enjoyed the way that most of the poems wove into the themes of mermaids and the ocean. Unfortunately, the poems that didn't have anything to do with those themes felt a little out of place in the collection. I wish that the poet would have leaned into those motifs a little more!
I also felt that much of the works included were repetitive, and some were a little too simple when compared to the longer and more impactful poems in the collection.
#popsugarreadingchallenge - mineral in the title
I also felt that much of the works included were repetitive, and some were a little too simple when compared to the longer and more impactful poems in the collection.
#popsugarreadingchallenge - mineral in the title
October 13, 2022
I liked some of the poems in this collection, but this work as a whole just wasn't strong enough. If it was shortened and edited down to only include poems centered around the sea and such, then I think I would've given it a higher rating. Those nautical-themed ones I enjoyed. But some of the other "poems" were just a sentence long that wasn't even "artful," in my opinion. Like, some of them were just flowery-worded advice? Those belong in a self-help book, not one compiled of real poetry.
June 8, 2024
While my reactions to the poems in this collection varied, those that resonated with me did so profoundly, effortlessly captivating my attention. Some poems are so sweet that they left me not wanting to read anything else afterward. Thank you for writing this book, Alfa!
November 24, 2023
some notable favourite poems:
“Memories are always evoked by the division of day and night, like tangerine sunsets on late August nights and lips that taste like freshly churned sorbet and the hint of an afternoon swim.
... The memory of him is fading tonight, like the sun sinking into the blanket of waves. But I know it will return another day.”
“Lean on me.
I need to feel strong
and unfailing
for someone.
This is how I gauge
my worthiness
on the days
I feel most unworthy.”
“How many walls
have you torn down
trying to give your heart
the open spaces
it craves?”
“You cannot
let another person
love you
only
physically.
Their love
needs to
swim in your
depths
and tangle in
your hair.”
“Memories are always evoked by the division of day and night, like tangerine sunsets on late August nights and lips that taste like freshly churned sorbet and the hint of an afternoon swim.
... The memory of him is fading tonight, like the sun sinking into the blanket of waves. But I know it will return another day.”
“Lean on me.
I need to feel strong
and unfailing
for someone.
This is how I gauge
my worthiness
on the days
I feel most unworthy.”
“How many walls
have you torn down
trying to give your heart
the open spaces
it craves?”
“You cannot
let another person
love you
only
physically.
Their love
needs to
swim in your
depths
and tangle in
your hair.”
May 18, 2025
THE MERMAIDS ARE WITHIN US ALL ALONG
This is probably one of the consistent & coherent collection I've read thus far. It has the theme of 'sea' 'mermaid' from start to finish and I'm loving it.
"the morning breathes upon
my flesh like
whispered promises and bad decisions,"
ooh those lines go so hard.
This is probably one of the consistent & coherent collection I've read thus far. It has the theme of 'sea' 'mermaid' from start to finish and I'm loving it.
"the morning breathes upon
my flesh like
whispered promises and bad decisions,"
ooh those lines go so hard.
January 1, 2020
Erosion
There was a time.
Before the sea.
Before I discovered me.
I was dead in a way
that lies numb.
When winter boots were stomping
upon my decaying layers.
I didn't even
flinch.
This one hit me so hard and this book was so beautifully written....❤❤
There was a time.
Before the sea.
Before I discovered me.
I was dead in a way
that lies numb.
When winter boots were stomping
upon my decaying layers.
I didn't even
flinch.
This one hit me so hard and this book was so beautifully written....❤❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2020
Read it in an afternoon. Love in many forms both for yourself and the ones that got away. Gorgeous metaphors about the ocean, the moon and stars. Can't wait to give this to my friend, whom I bought this for, that's getting treatments in NY. We are mermaids out of water, together.
June 7, 2020
Poetic magic ❤️ Captures love, personal reflection, and growth so intimately. I tabbed my favorite poems and ended with almost every edge turned up. I read some to my husband because they sounded exactly as he describes his love for being at sea.
March 28, 2021
You had me at sea and mermaids, " I've felt the pull of the salt and the sand and the sea." Thoughts on the sea and love in free verse. Definitely female centric, some I think are more compelling to a younger audience. Overall an enjoyable collection I'll re-read. Beautiful cover.
April 13, 2024
I ate up these words. I just felt so content with the ocean in the background as I read. Beautiful, ethereal, and so relatable. Dear God, I am so thankful that I happened upon this author at the local bookstore.
October 14, 2019
Another beautiful book filled with the words we are all dying to say, but sometimes lack the ability. Thank you Alfa for know the language of the heart so fluently.
November 20, 2019
An exquisite journey to the sea with its poetic treasures. Alfa doesn’t disappoint and I loved this short and sweet book.
December 23, 2019
I've said it before and I'll say it again - Alfa's work is some of the very best. As a modern poet today, Alfa is by far one of the best.
December 25, 2019
Talk about a treasure of an impulse-buy. Anything mermaid-related, I'm drawn to, and this, wow. I devoured it in one sitting.
February 14, 2020
Amazing poetry. Very sensory active.
March 5, 2020
Beautiful, inspiring, and uplifting. I am definitely a fan of this poet’s work.
April 19, 2020
So many stars. I lost count. This was a such a personal experience. My heart is raw
July 30, 2020
Another lovely poetry collection by Alfa.
My one criticism is that it sometimes feels like she's stretching to fit into her theme.
That said, this is one of my favorites of her collections.
My one criticism is that it sometimes feels like she's stretching to fit into her theme.
That said, this is one of my favorites of her collections.
August 23, 2020
3.5 stars.
December 23, 2020
You will find yourself in these collections
December 30, 2020
I enjoyed some of the poems in this collection. Others didn’t work quite as well for me. I measure a good collection based on the number of individual poems that speak to my soul. And there were enough of those for me to say that overall I enjoyed this collection by Alfa.
January 14, 2021
Love it so much
March 6, 2022
I think this one is by far my favorite! There are so many amazing poems in this book and almost all of them spoke to me! Amazing book. Definitely think Alfa is one of my favorite poets!
December 22, 2022
Conduit and storm surge along with the rest of the poems were very good.
March 21, 2023
Another wonderful volume of modern poems by Alfa. They beg to be re-read multiple times.
September 12, 2023
Not even halfway I'll give it 5 stars. So much feelings in her words🔥🔥🔥
February 6, 2024
A book I will keep on returning to
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews