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