Falling into the River

3rd Place Winner, The Poetry Box Chapbook Prize, 2019

“How many close calls before we become ghosts?” wonders Debbie Hall, the author of this collection, where she reflects upon her experiences—emotional, relational and spiritual—during her partner’s yearlong battle with a life-threatening illness. Threaded throughout these poems is the presence of the natural world—always a source of solace, but now more acutely and deeply felt.

Early Praise for Falling into the River:

“This collection is a celebration of life and love—a testament to treasure.”
—Lin Nelson Benedek, When a Peacock Speaks to You in a Dream

“Faced with a somber ‘unexpected detour,’ Debbie Hall has forged poetry that is deeply attentive and hopeful.”
—Rebecca Patrascu, Before Noon

“These are poems with spines. ‘Words you can barely form / with your own mouth, / vocabulary that you must now / make your own.’ Hall is gifted with a language that is rich in observation and conveys it with profound courage and tenderness.”
—Sam Roxas-Chua, Saying Your Name Three Times Underwater

“Language formed from ache, perseverance and enlightenment.”
—Jeff Walt, Leave Smoke