"Popping Down Holes: A Review of Kelly R. Samuels’ ‘Talking to Alice’" by Jacquelene Mkrtchyan

It is a pleasure to have reviewed Kelly R. Samuels’ newest chapbook, Talking To Alice — the reference is to Alice in Wonderland, who morphs into different personas across the twelve poems depending on the personal context Samuels wants to highlight. All twelve poems in the chapbook have their own narratives, which I was invited to imagine.
         Samuels is the author of the full-length collection All the Time in the World (Kelsay Books) and three previous chapbooks: Words Some of Us Barely Use, To Marie Antoinette, from and Zeena / Zenobia Speaks She is a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee with work appearing in The Massachusetts Review, RHINO, River Styx, Sixth Finch, and Court Green. Her second full-length collection, Oblivescence will be published by Red Sweater Press in February, 2024. She lives in the Upper Midwest. As her website mentions, “Her moving poetry collection Oblivescence explores a daughter's relationship with her mother while facing the difficulties of Alzheimer's. It encapsulates memory, grief, and caring through evocative imagery, metaphors, and allusions to Greek mythology and psychology. It offers a poignant examination of the meaning of recollection and strikes a deep chord with families, caregivers, and medical professionals.” In similar fashion, her chapbook Talking to Alice uses a referent drawn from a piece of classic literature, this time a beloved children’s book, in order to consider a context that is more personal and even confessional, drawn from Samuels’ own life.
Case in point, the poem, “Talking to Alice about Popping Down Holes Without Consideration”, seems to be reflecting on a previous relationship, possibly a romantic one which expressed sorrow. I can see that the speaker admits to having taken on a series of positive judgments without fully weighing the possible outcomes. I can say, at some point, I have been in a situation that might be related to this piece. When a friendship or a relationship starts to crumble, I try to find the best solution but, doing that too many times, breaks me down. The line about having previously been "careful and steady and true,” states that there was a more deliberate and cautious attitude in the past, but something changed and that made a different and less favorable result. The “Alice” persona appears to be receiving advice from the speaker in order to avoid making the same mistakes over again. In high school, I too made mistakes over and over again, which ultimately taught me responsibility.
In particular, phrases such as, "look at where that's gotten me" and the metaphor of "cursing slippers left out to trip over after midnight,” convey a sense of bitterness and the consequences of bad decisions. Likewise, the phrase "mull it over for a few,” suggests that decisions should be well-thought-out, especially when they involve relationships. If we are able to consider best practices when it comes to matters of the heart, then going over the decision before it’s made should be done more than once. Thus the speaker tells Alice to think carefully about the advantages and disadvantages of her choices, as well as any possible repercussions. This writing is one of doubt and remorse, which wants to impart knowledge gained from the speaker's own experiences. The speaker's journey from being "careful and steady" to a point of anger and sorrow suggests a shattered relationship.
          One other poem that caught my eye was, “Talking to Alice About It Being Either Deep or Because She Is Falling Slowly,” which provokes a wistful contemplation on the passing of time and the passage from youth to maturity in the reader. Using childhood recollections, the speaker talks about the concept of depth in both the literal and symbolic senses: "It might not be either/or, but rather and.” The speaker uses the metaphor of the "deep end" of a pool — which seemed important when the speaker was younger — to represent the complexity of life. The speaker remembers a moment when they felt little in the face of a deep pool. Childhood memories of afternoons that "went on for days" capture the sense of time feeling stretched, with youth coexisting with a "quick heart and eye firing." This conveys the passion and quick perception that are frequently associated with youth. The reference to one winter's "negligible ways" of getting depressed alludes to the little, steady changes that come with growing up.
While reading this poem in particular, I am able to relate to the concept of growing up. I am still a child, a 22-year-old child, but maturity speaks for itself. The reason this was touching to me is because I had an amazing childhood, and I can now see why it is hard to “keep up.” The concept of slowing down and the capacity to see what's written on walls may represent a more methodical, reflective way of living as one gets older. The last words of the poem, "if it goes on forever, or for what feels like, it's also deep," perfectly capture the concept that depth is about length and emotional resonance. Samuels uses the word "deep" often, which highlights this topic and alludes to a multi-layered perspective on life that comes with experience. Overall, the poem effectively captures the speaker's journey from infancy to maturity by illustrating the difficulties of growing up.
Lastly the poem, “Talking to Alice about Locks Too Large or Keys Too Small,” accepts the reality that things don't always go as planned and recognizes how normal it is to have days like that. The speaker considers flaws and failures, presenting the viewpoint that it's OK for things to occasionally be out of sync. The frequent use of expressions such as "This won't fit . . . This won't line up . . . Something is lost" emphasize the concept that things might not always go as planned and evokes feelings of disorder or dissatisfaction. Like the speaker, we all have come to an understanding that it is okay for our plans to turn upside down. In a way, it has trained me to become more adapted to change, which I appreciate.
Since we are talking about change and things not lining up, I would like to relate this text to the narrative of Alice in Wonderland. Alice thought that she was always right and was a bit stubborn, and when one has that type of attitude, it is not easy to adapt to change. A concrete image, such as a burnt tea cake, is used to metaphorically represent flaws and setbacks in life. "Give up and begin again tomorrow" is a recommendation that demonstrates perseverance and acknowledges that some days are simply not destined for success. It's a sensible and caring strategy that understands the need of taking a step back and beginning over when faced with obstacles. The speaker acknowledges that she has been tempted to help or encourage others, but she also knows that there is value in also communicating with someone who has had a similar hardship. This is consistent with the idea that, sometimes, it's more comforting to know that you're not alone in your struggles. The idea of the incorrect lock and key heightens the sensation of disarray and makes it more challenging to identify the appropriate answers. Samuels’ last words, "Take a big breath. Consider arches that lead into gardens," is a comforting and upbeat viewpoint. While the description of arches going into gardens indicates a trip toward something lovely and hopeful, the act of taking a deep breath suggests a time of introspection and a need for courage.
Samuels explores the feelings of remorse and introspection after a broken relationship. Through harsh reflections, the “Alice” persona is warned not to make the same mistakes twice. It is a lesson derived from the speaker's transition from recklessness to melancholy. In other poems, she explores the passage from childhood to adulthood, using time and a pool as metaphors to highlight the depths of life's complexity. Still further into the chapbook, Samuels' lines express that it is okay for things to not line up properly. All of these poems provide moving insights into human lives; the first one I’ve discussed here focuses on regret and relationships, while the second one explores the subtleties of maturation and perspective. Together, they brilliantly capture the complex and varied aspects of life's journey, from the dangers of making snap judgments to the profound realizations that come with time.

JACQUELENE MKRTCHYAN

Jacquelene Mkrtchyan is a 4th year Business Management Major at Woodbury University. She is the Poetry Editor of MORIA Literary Magazine, Issue 12. Jacquelene has plans to become an attorney, and in the far future a judge, but also enjoys cooking, baking, and singing.

Headshot: Jacquelene Mkrtchyan