Porch Light to the Longshoreman

by Colleen Alles

Overview

In a series of brave little poems, "Porch Light to the Longshoreman" brings to life what it means to be out in the world, having adventure, but being ultimately called back by the porch light of one's own home. The emotional interior of life in the Midwest is central to this collection. Some poems, like "Reeds Lake" highlight specific areas in West Michigan. Others speak to the challenges of having young children, or needy dogs to walk. All in all, this collection speaks to the every day as much as it speaks to the broad, collective scope of what it means to have life, love, and family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646620197
Publisher:	Finishing Line Press
Publication date:	08/29/2019
Pages:	38
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.09(d)

About the Author

4. AUTHOR INFO: Colleen Alles is a native Michigander living in Grand Rapids. 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. A former teacher, Colleen works at a public library to best share her love of all things books. Her first book of poetry, "Induction: poems for my new daughter" was published in March 2018 by Finishing Line Press.

Table of Contents

Possible Scene of an Accident 1

Daydream 2

Reeds Lake 3

Outbound Mail 4

Instructions for Living in a Small House 5

Association of Commerce Building 6

Auditorium Interior 7

Vigil 8

Tribute to a Kiss 9

Silver Springs 11

Marriage 12

New Stove 13

A Request 14

Pickwick Tavern 15

Gruene, TX 17

By the end of July 18

When I was small 20

Finding a rifle under the bed 21

Property Line 22

Woman in House 23

The Real Bear 24

The News of the World 25

Editorial Reviews

Reading these poems is its own form of vigil, its own way of recapturing the subtle joys of life’s opportunities, the simple wonder of a new appliance, the comfort of a home that is long outgrown but always, always home.

—Greg Schreur, Writer, teacher

Alles mines midlife and MidWestern particulars for emotional resonance. Small lakes, Great Lakes, falling willow branches, and relentless waves—these surround moments of focus on her infant’s hairline. She wades honestly through both gratitude and the desire to have a beer and rest her head on the bar.

—Lindsay Ellis, Writer, Associate Professor of English at Grand

Valley State University

From the Publisher