Balancing: Poems of the Female Immigrant Experience in the Upper Midwest, 1830-1930

The poems in Balancing were inspired by the experience of women who, in the 19th and 20th centuries, sought new homes in the Upper Midwest. The first waves of pioneers, predominantly Yankees from Northeastern states, were soon followed by European immigrants. Few women recorded their struggles and satisfactions, but by juxtaposing research and imagination, Ernst breathes new life into their forgotten stories. To read one of the book's poems, click HERE.

"With a painterly eye, Kathleen writes with empathy, compassion and profound understanding for their lives; these women who were forced to balance from stump to stump/from Old World to New, from dreaming bride to resolute wife/one foot rooted solid, the other suspended in air. ...The lucky reader who takes the time to be with these poems can't help but be riveted and spiritually enlarged by Kathleen's work."

         ~Andrea Potos, Author of Marrow of Summer and Mothershell

"The word choices in these poems are breathtaking and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this collection for anyone . . . even if you’re not a poetry fan or a history buff. ...This is a book I loved getting lost in. I’ll be re-reading it, savoring each poem as I ponder our country’s history and how women shaped it."

~Christine DeSmet, author/book coach/Distinguished Faculty Associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison

"I found it a fascinating read."

~Larry Meiller, Host of The Larry Meiller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio

This collection of eighteen poems is Kathleen's fortieth published book. It is available for online ordering in trade paperback and ebook formats from independent bookstores or Bookshop.com and the following.

Lost, 1867

The 19th-century immigrant experience often inspires my work. Here, I wanted to reflect how life has both changed and stayed the same. While the loss of a bonnet may feel irrelevant today, the loss of a child evokes timeless emotions. This poem was chosen for the 2013 MARK MY WORDS AGAIN exhibition at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, WI where it was paired with a photo by artist Jerry Weigel.

To read the poem, click HERE.

From Balancing: Poems of the Female Immigrant Experience in the Upper Midwest, 1830-1930, a collection of eighteen poems published by Little Creek Press. © 2021 Kathleen Ernst, LLC.

Facing Forward

I was honored to have this poem chosen for the MARK MY WORDS exhibition at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, WI. Artist Monica Jagel responded by creating a gorgeous piece of art that continues the story told in my poem.

To read the poem, click HERE.

From Balancing: Poems of the Female Immigrant Experience in the Upper Midwest, 1830-1930, a collection of eighteen poems published by Little Creek Press. © 2021 Kathleen Ernst, LLC.