Local writer Keleigh Wolf releases second collection of poetry

“The apotheosis of minutia is what poetry is,” proclaimed poet Keleigh Wolf as she tucked her unruly ringlets behind her ear.  

Wolf, named by Schuler Books and Music as their poet of the month, recently released her second collection of poems entitled Bacchus’ Bachelorette. The collection was seeded last year at the Marriott Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, where Wolf spent countless nights writing and smoking cigarettes in the shower, considering life’s breaking points.

“I felt like the world was continuing to just break me before I had the chance to defend myself," Wolf said of that dark period in her life. "I felt like Frida Kahlo’s poor little deer.”

In a coming-of-age battle, Wolf lets on that Bacchus’ Bachelorette is about “taking life to court and saying no, this isn’t fair. I’m not going to let this happen.”

Wolf began writing and publishing as a teen, posting her poetry online. Her first inspirations were the manuscripts of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker and Silvia Plath. She had always imagined herself publishing short stories and novels; however, it wasn’t until she had the opportunity to interview Armand Assante for an article that she began to pursue publishing seriously and call herself a poet.  

Wolf has written about 800-900 poems over the past few years that are a collection of observations and glimpses into her life.  She scribbles her ideas anywhere and everywhere—with lipstick on her bathroom mirror to the back of sales receipts at work. To feed her creative fire, Wolf surrounds herself with writers and artists living on the Avenue for the Arts. She looks to Grand Rapids’ poet and the primary editor of Bacchus’ Bachelorette, Christine Stephens, for mentorship.

In addition to Bacchus’ Bachelorette, Wolf published her first book, The Thanksgiving Room, in 2008, and has written for Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Rapids Family Magazine, The Grand Rapids Business Journal, REVUE Magazine and Rapid Growth Media.  Her next book is already in the works and will confront the mental health issues she has dealt with over the past year. Wolf hopes to find new things, experience them all, and express herself in her poetry.

A release party for Bacchus’ Bachelorette will be held at Mexicains Sans Frontieres at 120 S. Division Ave. #226 on Saturday, April 17. The doors open at 8 p.m. with wine.  Wolf will read her poetry at 9 pm accompanied by pianist, Alicia Menninga playing arrangements of songs written by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.   Moss Folk will play from 10-11 pm.  Bacchus’ Bachelorette will be available for purchase at the event and is currently on sale at Vertigo, Schuler Books and Music Downtown and lulu.com.