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Bright Shade
Winner of the APR/Honickman First Book Award, selected by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jericho Brown
Bright Shade is an appreciation of the wild woods, the rolling hills, the Appalachian air, and the little rivers that were the setting of Chelsea Harlan’s upbringing. The poems speak through the liminal space between the body and its relationships to other bodies, and the human relationship with nature—and so climate change is, inevitably, part of this book's undercurrent of grief. As the author navigates the high highs and the low lows of manic depression, Bright Shade articulates the wonder that accompanies sadness and the sadness that accompanies joy. Chelsea Harlan’s work is humorous, indeed bittersweet (bright / shade), and a little strange in exactly the right way.
Bright Shade is an appreciation of the wild woods, the rolling hills, the Appalachian air, and the little rivers that were the setting of Chelsea Harlan’s upbringing. The poems speak through the liminal space between the body and its relationships to other bodies, and the human relationship with nature—and so climate change is, inevitably, part of this book's undercurrent of grief. As the author navigates the high highs and the low lows of manic depression, Bright Shade articulates the wonder that accompanies sadness and the sadness that accompanies joy. Chelsea Harlan’s work is humorous, indeed bittersweet (bright / shade), and a little strange in exactly the right way.
- GenresPoetry
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2022
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2023
My approach to reading poetry lately has been to abstain from analyzing anything and to let it wash over me like I'm a sponge in a warm tidal pool. Soak it in. Anyway, that was my approach here, and I think this poetry healed part of my soul. My face hurts from smiling.
December 27, 2022
So much easier to keep living after reading this
July 10, 2024
chelsea’s writing reminded me of why i love poetry (and being alive). the simple, often overlooked, often goofy pleasures of existence —
March 9, 2023
Chelsea Harlan was kind enough to visit my Poetry I class at Brooklyn College today, which was a wonderful experience :)
if you’re curious, her speaking voice is just like her poetic voice. what’s even more wonderful is that she proved her ability to capture the voice of others as well— she called her mother to speak “mama recites the birds” for us, and there was no questioning who it was the moment she picked up the call. The way she recited the poem sounded exactly what I imagined her to sound like.
What I’m trying to say is that Harlan understands sound and treats it tenderly. Actually, she just seems to treat words and the world tenderly. While she alluded to the greater “dooms” of the world around us, I can’t help but leave her poetry with a sense of optimism and an appreciation for the small moments of joy, love, and life that make it all worth it, or at the very least, makes us feel like trying for a little while longer.
she was also just super kind, both in words and demeanor. I’m glad to have been introduced to her work and am glad to know to look for her writing when I need a perspective of the world that doesn’t put dread in the pit of my stomach.
if you’re curious, her speaking voice is just like her poetic voice. what’s even more wonderful is that she proved her ability to capture the voice of others as well— she called her mother to speak “mama recites the birds” for us, and there was no questioning who it was the moment she picked up the call. The way she recited the poem sounded exactly what I imagined her to sound like.
What I’m trying to say is that Harlan understands sound and treats it tenderly. Actually, she just seems to treat words and the world tenderly. While she alluded to the greater “dooms” of the world around us, I can’t help but leave her poetry with a sense of optimism and an appreciation for the small moments of joy, love, and life that make it all worth it, or at the very least, makes us feel like trying for a little while longer.
she was also just super kind, both in words and demeanor. I’m glad to have been introduced to her work and am glad to know to look for her writing when I need a perspective of the world that doesn’t put dread in the pit of my stomach.
April 1, 2025
"I miss everything happening all at once / like bopping groundhogs' heads blindfolded"
Chelsea Harlan's debut poetry collection, Bright Shade, draws readers into a world that is beautiful purely because it is. Harlan makes me remember what it was like to understand the world around me simply by feeling it. While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt that the initial pacing of the book felt rushed and the collection lacked a depth I was searching for. The beginning of the book starts with an epigraph from Disney's Robin Hood which I adored, but simultaneously it pushed me as a reader to keep up with a preset rhythm. Additionally, Harlan reaches for the world, but not for the heart in this collection. I found myself wanting to see more vulnerability—I wanted to know what she was willing to sacrifice and came up short.
"someone is gently clicking their fingernails against my skull"
However, the poem "Late Spring Poem" was perfect. That was a perfect poem. I wished for more poems like that in this collection.
Chelsea Harlan's debut poetry collection, Bright Shade, draws readers into a world that is beautiful purely because it is. Harlan makes me remember what it was like to understand the world around me simply by feeling it. While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt that the initial pacing of the book felt rushed and the collection lacked a depth I was searching for. The beginning of the book starts with an epigraph from Disney's Robin Hood which I adored, but simultaneously it pushed me as a reader to keep up with a preset rhythm. Additionally, Harlan reaches for the world, but not for the heart in this collection. I found myself wanting to see more vulnerability—I wanted to know what she was willing to sacrifice and came up short.
"someone is gently clicking their fingernails against my skull"
However, the poem "Late Spring Poem" was perfect. That was a perfect poem. I wished for more poems like that in this collection.
April 4, 2024
Picked this up at the public library on a whim because I haven't read a book in about two months and my brain is rotting. To my surprise, it's the exact type of poetry I like: Midwest/Appalachian oddly-specific free verse, with a touch of humor. I'm excited to see what's in the future for this poet!!
Only three stars because it was a little corny at times. That salad dressing poem might've been my least favorite thing I've ever read...okay Rupi Kaur pack it up.
Only three stars because it was a little corny at times. That salad dressing poem might've been my least favorite thing I've ever read...okay Rupi Kaur pack it up.
November 5, 2025
Read this poetry collection for my class on the history and methodologies of teaching creative writing. I enjoyed it. I love when poets incorporate humor, and I liked Harlan's somewhat ironic use of humor here.
November 9, 2022
What fun this book is. Full of joie de vivre and laced with humor in its heavier moments. "What a time to be alive / I wonder unironically aloud to no one." This book is all yes.
October 31, 2023
This was so real and so fun and so lovely. Many already dog eared for inevitable returnings.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews