Clementines and Other Wounds, by Lucy Dale

Poetry, chapbook, 24 pages, from Bottlecap Features.

This chapbook is a poetic exploration of identity, vulnerability, and the nuanced experiences of femininity. Through a series of personal and reflective pieces, the poems draw from the tension between societal expectations and individual self-realization. Poems like "Bad Feminist" and "Post-It Note Removal" highlight the internal struggle of reconciling traditional roles with the desire for independence and self-expression. In "Bad Feminist", the speaker grapples with the contradiction of desiring love from a man while maintaining feminist ideals. At the same time, "Post-It Note Removal" presents love as a tedious and externalized task, a chore that contrasts with the softness and tenderness for which the speaker yearns.

The collection weaves together intimate and everyday moments with more profound reflections on family, longing, and growth. In "Missing Pearls", the speaker touches on the loss of a family heirloom and the emotional distance felt from their mother, juxtaposed against a constant reminder of shared traits. "G" and "May Night" offer meditations on selfhood, from the permanent mark of a tattoo to the fleeting connection between two people, revealing a complex relationship with memory, love, and personal transformation. Similarly, "Dog Costume Parade" connects the mundane with the profound, as the speaker reflects on the seemingly trivial moment of a parade, remembering a deceased grandfather, and considering how simple, happy things can elicit more profound reflections on family and loss.

Themes of waiting and self-discovery permeate throughout the chapbook. In "Late Bloomer", the speaker compares their growth to that of a late-blooming flower, patiently waiting for the right moment to flourish. "Treading Water" conveys a sense of emotional stasis, where the speaker is caught between love and uncertainty, questioning the role of convenience and sacrifice in relationships. The chapbook also examines mental health, as seen in "Yellow Flamingos" where the speaker confronts feelings of isolation and anxiety, represented by the relentless presence of yellow flamingos. With its vulnerability and raw emotion, this chapbook invites readers to reflect on their own complexities, exploring what it means to navigate the contradictions of identity, love, and belonging.

Lucy Dale is a sophomore at Denison University studying English with a Creative Writing emphasis and Women’s & Gender Studies. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied Creative Writing. Lucy is originally from Cleveland, OH. Her writing has been published in literary magazines such as Sink Hollow, The Allegheny Review, One Art, Gyroscope Review, and Remington Review. In 2024, she was the third-place recipient of the Annie MacNeill Poetry Competition at Denison University.