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Dirty Laundry
Deborah Alma's debut poetry collection Dirty Laundry is raucous, daring and honest, drawing contemporary women’s lives and those of our foremothers into the spotlight. It voices bold, feminist songs of praise: of persistence, survival, adventures of sexual rediscovery, each reclaiming the space to speak its mind and be heard and seen. A perfect remedy for the heartsick and weary, Alma’s intimate and particular poems are resolute enchantments, a form of robust magic.
The collection brims with poems which are unafraid of airing secrets, desires and untold stories. From growing up mixed-race and learning to survive as a woman in the world, to tales of the countryside and themes of escape and finding joy, this book of poems is as vivid as it is frank and fearless. There’ll be no need for any tears, it’ll all come out in the wash…
The collection brims with poems which are unafraid of airing secrets, desires and untold stories. From growing up mixed-race and learning to survive as a woman in the world, to tales of the countryside and themes of escape and finding joy, this book of poems is as vivid as it is frank and fearless. There’ll be no need for any tears, it’ll all come out in the wash…
- GenresPoetry
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 20, 2018
I enjoyed this but I was a little disappointed to find that a large proportion of this book I had already read in Deborah's Emma Press pamphlet, and so this collection had much of the same themes.
Alma has the ability to find strength in simple, stripped back language which is accessible and often still retains complexity.
I'm not sure what binds this collection however and from some the poems I didn't know what joined them thematically to the collection as a whole (which is not important to all readers, but something which I seek).
Alma has the ability to find strength in simple, stripped back language which is accessible and often still retains complexity.
I'm not sure what binds this collection however and from some the poems I didn't know what joined them thematically to the collection as a whole (which is not important to all readers, but something which I seek).
June 10, 2018
The poems are striking, moving and addictive. Wanting to read on, I had to make myself to pause between them so as to enjoy the full flavour of each one. Summing the collection up as whole could never do justice to all the parts. The poems are full of wisdoms and warnings. Observations of human life and light, love and lust, loss and longing are found in the smallest yet startlingly encompassing details. Sounds, metaphors and scenarios are also weaved together beguilingly.
“I am a mother, a field a house.
Without me, windows darken,
no-one else knows how to put on lights
just to bring the house to life.
“I am each of the processes of laundry…”
(‘She describes herself like this’)
Re-reading consecutive poems in Dirty Laundry, I was moved by a sense of restlessness sifting and settling, then sifting again, shape-shifting in and out of something like peace. Softness is tempered by sensual secrets, sexual sorcery/saucery and strong stances that sing of surviving darker truths and violence. In ‘Seeing It Coming’, the poem’s main character, Francine, starts to use rear-view mirrors for walking, though she finds the glass distorting:
“Finally, late night blanket-stitch,
cross-stitch tight, she fastened
white van mirror, angel’s wings,
into the seams of her great-coat…”
There’s so much in just this one poem that I could say a lot more about in terms of women’s experience, what Francine might want/need to see coming, and what the distorting glass shows here…for this micro-review though, I’ll simply say that the lightness of touch here, as elsewhere in the collection, heightens the thrust of the very real human emotions that power this poem. This conceit is also an ideal metaphor for what this collection does – revealing what’s often hidden in life’s blind spots. For Francine, there’s a sense of fear and the need for safety/control. But I’m also reminded that blind-spots needn’t only be about dangerous vulnerability, they can, and should, also be places where the most beautiful surprises arise – in life and in these poems. I loved this collection!
“I am a mother, a field a house.
Without me, windows darken,
no-one else knows how to put on lights
just to bring the house to life.
“I am each of the processes of laundry…”
(‘She describes herself like this’)
Re-reading consecutive poems in Dirty Laundry, I was moved by a sense of restlessness sifting and settling, then sifting again, shape-shifting in and out of something like peace. Softness is tempered by sensual secrets, sexual sorcery/saucery and strong stances that sing of surviving darker truths and violence. In ‘Seeing It Coming’, the poem’s main character, Francine, starts to use rear-view mirrors for walking, though she finds the glass distorting:
“Finally, late night blanket-stitch,
cross-stitch tight, she fastened
white van mirror, angel’s wings,
into the seams of her great-coat…”
There’s so much in just this one poem that I could say a lot more about in terms of women’s experience, what Francine might want/need to see coming, and what the distorting glass shows here…for this micro-review though, I’ll simply say that the lightness of touch here, as elsewhere in the collection, heightens the thrust of the very real human emotions that power this poem. This conceit is also an ideal metaphor for what this collection does – revealing what’s often hidden in life’s blind spots. For Francine, there’s a sense of fear and the need for safety/control. But I’m also reminded that blind-spots needn’t only be about dangerous vulnerability, they can, and should, also be places where the most beautiful surprises arise – in life and in these poems. I loved this collection!
September 15, 2018
Another strong poetry collection. I love the exploration of sexuality, femininity and sensuality within this collection. This poetry collection has a healthy dash of magical realism and fluidly explores deep emotions through themes of nature and objects within the home. My favourite poems were : Like Chocolate, He Sees Me, Thighs and The Magic Spell. I also loved the intertextual threading of the authors cultural and sexual identity within the collection. This collection is rich and experimental and I really enjoyed reading it!
September 11, 2018
*******NO SPOILERS GUARANTEED ********
Loved this collection. I’m relatively new to the genre of poetry (for enjoyment reading purposes) so had not, like another reviewer had, read any of the poems. Can not say there was a single poem that did not engage me, for one reason or another. Laughed, gasped, nearly shed a tear but thoroughly enjoyed the collection cover to cover.
MORE MORE!!
Loved this collection. I’m relatively new to the genre of poetry (for enjoyment reading purposes) so had not, like another reviewer had, read any of the poems. Can not say there was a single poem that did not engage me, for one reason or another. Laughed, gasped, nearly shed a tear but thoroughly enjoyed the collection cover to cover.
MORE MORE!!
December 31, 2020
4.5 stars. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. There is sensuality in this book of poems - sensuality mixed with pain. Beautifully worded notions, intimate memories and complex thoughts on what it means to be a woman. The imagery is particularly noteworthy. I recommend reading this collection out loud - the poems came to life once they left my lips, leaving me on my couch to contemplate long after I had finished reading.
January 4, 2021
I found that a lot of the poems didn’t resonate with me, but the of the ones that did, I re-read them over and over and rewrote them out so I wouldn’t forget them. Such as any book of poetry! My favourites were Nearly Love and The Head of The Church in Rome. One is honest, thought provoking and ambiguous, while the other is wonderfully weird and provocative. I enjoyed reading this!
July 8, 2023
Complex and beautiful
Themes of feminism, sexuality and self.
A great addition to any poetry collection.
Themes of feminism, sexuality and self.
A great addition to any poetry collection.
December 19, 2024
Read cover to cover - I needed to hear these strong poems of female courage and survival.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews