HemisFear, by Nichole White

Poetry, chapbook, 20 pages, from Bottlecap Features. HemisFear is a poetic exploration of the internal balance between logic and imagination, structure and spontaneity, order and intuition. Through eleven formally diverse poems—including a Sestina, Pantoum, Villanelle, Iambic Pentameter, a Haiku and free verse—this chapbook navigates the cognitive landscape of the left and right brain, mapping the conceptual and emotional terrain of self-identity. Split into two sections, HemisFear opens with five poems representing the “left” brain: analytical, rational, methodical. The second half shifts into the “right” brain’s domain: creative, emotional, intuitive. The final poem serves as an ode to integration—a harmonious conclusion that bridges the two halves, offering readers a path toward their own destination. Inspired by the author’s personal journey exploring mental processes and peace, HemisFear invites readers to reconsider the dichotomy between freedom and functionality. Rather than fearing our duality, Nichole lyrically encourages individuals to find the balance of both hemispheres. This chapbook ultimately offers a sense of appreciation—an affirmation that identity is not a fixed point, but a journey in motion. Nichole White earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Nichole believes in owning one’s narrative and fostering varying voices. She resides in Bethel, MN, with her husband, four children, three dogs, a fish and a turtle. Her hobbies include adding miles and adventures to her cherished Jeep Renegade, fly fishing alongside her husband, and discovering the “happy accidents” that come alongside life and artistry.