"One" is the debut poetry collection by Swedish author A.L.D Chalom. Her poetry has amassed a great following on various social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, where she started writing poetry under the name printpoetics (@printpoetics) - what she calls a "productive procrastination" while editing her first full length novel. This collection is filled with never-seen material and so far unpublished poetry. The poetry is modern and light, the format is slightly different, with titles being part of the poems themselves, and placed as a tag line at the end to reinforce a message. There is a clear urge toward social awareness. The collection asks questions about how we live, learn, treat and interact with our environment, be it the people around us, the nature we live in, or the behaviors we come across in our society. This is a poetry collection for anyone who is ready to question how they rub off and what footprint they leave. But above all, this is a poetry collection for anyone willing to treasure and open their eyes to the uniqueness in every person and every place they touch.
I read this book in one day, that's how hooked I was from the first page. I love poetry books that have these types of poems. They are very relatable and quick reads. I was never bored of anything I read in the book and it kept me turning the page to see how the next poem would match up. If you're into Lang Leav's poetry, A.L.D Chalom has a very similar style in the way the poems are written in One. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend this read.
As one who usually approaches contemporary poetry sceptically, I found 'One' a delightfully mind-opening experience.
Chalom's style is at once concise and conversational – her accessible eloquence invites the reader to project her or himself freely onto her writing.
The poems touch delicately yet directly upon modern life and the self: some observational, some confessional. As in all profound reflections on the world, it was good to see a little medicinal humour too.
A few of my favourites:
'It's not something you can wrap up and give away' puts into words frustrations and shifting perspectives that will feel familiar to every reader.
'Beware of the dog' captures self-destructive cycles of mental illness with a single, wonderful image.
'Old ladies can "taste" at the market' had me laughing out loud – a lovely poem to keep in your pocket and perk you up for life.
'You thanked the air' struck me as a well-articulated reflection on the increase of self-absorption and solitude in our modern, consumerist society of objects.
I was deeply touched by this collection of poetry! On a rainy day in a Starbucks I got lost for a little while between these pages and lite for a while. I laughed and I also cried a little and over all the poetry did to me what poetry is supposed to do: it touched my heart and soul!
I appreciate the carefully chosen words and love the way they are knitted together! A.L.D. Chalom talks about all the big things but doesn't forget the little things either! Obviously we all connect to the poems the most that talk about feelings we know, pain we know, and I have to say I truly found comfort in these words while reading them!
I absolutely recommend this collection of poetry! I think it is a good read for the little times in between things when the soul needs a little bit of food to be inspired again!
My favorite poems in this collections are:
"I didn't take this class in school"
"Mind the gap"
"You've got this"
"I still believe in Neverland"
Now go and enjoy some beautiful poetry! :)
“… because how,
yes, how,
can something that radiates
so. much. damn. pain.
thought your entire body
not burn the rest of the world with you?”
One is Chalom’s debut collection of poetry and it is worth reading over and over again!
I am not always a fan of poetry, but I really liked these. They all had deep feelings conveyed in coherent and scintillating strings of words. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quiter take on the world.
