her name was aly

Some candid photos from an impromptu performance last weekend at #anurbansoirée . Always an honor to support love and appreciation of poetry; shoutout to the homie @ben.trinh for all his efforts and to the other amazing poets that bared their souls to a big ass room full of strangers. Photos c/o @alexariassc (at Oakland, California)

Throwing it back to what was only a few months ago, when I was living in a colorful little trailer hidden on a small slice of Northern California paradise. Funny how when I look back, I'm nostalgic for what now seems like a simpler time, when in actuality the girl in this photo was going through a transformational process she wasn't sure she knew how to handle. Fast forward to now, and I'm laughing at how easy I had it then! 😂 At this moment I am exponentially more overwhelmed AND more fulfilled -- which is a testament to how life only becomes more nuanced, deeper, and expansive in how we experience it, as long as we continue inviting that in. Our past selves are just markers to our present selves to keep becoming who we are. Photo and silk dress by @de_la_r0ca (Missing you so much my love, I'm sure you echo the same sentiments above!) #tyforreading #noidontdoshortcaptions 💁🏽

My other half drove all the way up to my little corner of California to experience the place I've been living for the past few months. Needless to say, we had a ridiculous amount of fun, taking in the rugged coast and trying to break rocks open. Lerb yew 5ever, the other pea in my pod. #scamrocks2017 #trustnogeode (at Boonville, California)

SZA - Normal Girl 🎶🚺👌🏽👄😴mood #wakingupfromnapsinthecar #whyiseverydayalongdrive (at Angels Camp, California)

Oct 8th marked the 5 month mark that I have been living and working in the wonderful little town of Boonville, CA. "Boon-what?" you may find yourself asking, but essentially it may be the quaintest and loveliest best kept secret of Northern California (which is currently surrounded by wildfire ☹️). I've been communing with nature, working as a sous chef, and meeting many eclectic and inspiring souls along the journey. Like any experience in life, it's had its ups and downs, but all I have right now is gratitude for this beautiful place that has welcomed me with such open arms. Here's to the time left, the laughs still to be had, and the memories I'll keep making while I can. P.S Another round of poetry books just went out; apologies to all you SJ peeps as I'm trying to deliver them to your mailboxes personally to save money on postage 😝 (at The Boonville Hotel & Table 128)

Aaaaand the first round of books are out! Here's a little sampler of what's to be found in my book. There are still a good amount of copies left, and if you haven't donated yet please be sure to let me know to reserve you a copy if you want one! I do ship internationally, I just ask that you try to cover the cost of shipping when you donate 😌🙏🏽💕Thank you so much friends for showing so much love and support for my writing and my work #endlesslove #alysonnoelepoetry

Ch-ch-check it out! My poetry book 'Silhouettes, cigarettes & other stories' is back for a limited print, and will be available for minimum donations of $10! Being able to donate anything more will be much appreciated, as all funds raised will go towards sending the the members of the Nawalpur Girls Power Program to a women's empowerment conference in Kathmandu in February 2018. Donations are accepted via Venmo and PayPal (alyson .sagala@gmail.com). Please DM/email me your mailing address upon donation so I can have it sent to you ASAP. This will likely be the last printing of this book ever, so please jump on it if you didn't manage to get one before! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT, and may your days be filled with love, poetry, and light my dear friends 😊🙌🏽✍🏽💕

Fell in love at first sight today, but hey can you blame me? 🐶💕 #puppylove

Sometimes I'm not really sure who's walking who 🤔🐶 #doggydays (at Fort Bragg, California)

Infinitely grateful for the magic of the universe, flowing through me and organically leading me to some of the deepest and fulfilling experiences of my life. Thank you to the freedom fighters, psytrance junkies, lovers, ravers, dancers, artists, water protectors, native brothers and sisters, musicians, & friends new and old that held an intentional space for thousands of people during this auspicious time. What a gift it was to get to exist in a space for healing, activation and emotional release, as we work towards a paradigm shift to create more love and light throughout this world 🙏🏽💕🌎 Thank you @marianadelanait & @johnwpaula for the precious captures of my weekend 😊#oregoneclipse2017 (at Symbiosis Oregon Eclipse)

Falling in love with California sunshine all over again ☀️ 💕🤗🌲🌾 #selfloveselfies

It is hard sometimes to know grace by name. I used to think that so much meaning in my life needed to be derived outside of myself. I have spent more time than I'd like to admit coveting something for myself just because it wasn't mine. I came to despite routine, when forced into quiet moments alone with myself, shut within hollow walls and empty tasks. It is hard, throughout life, to have to discern what it means to do what is right and what makes you happy. Just because society was built a certain way doesn't mean we can't recreate our own. And in this life, and in this routine, of creating little splashes of beauty in the simplest of ways, whether it's arranging food on a plate so that people derive joy from their meal, to arranging flowers in a vase - I have found so much grace in that. #thismorning #idkhowtosocialmediaanymore #simplepleasures (at Boonville, California)

I woke up on a plane above the California coast, a memory of who I was waiting for me like a ghost, I have shed my skin like spring, learned not to count this as a loss, discovered moving forward is always worth the cost. I have learned how to unearth secrets, that are stored within my soul, learned that living in my solitude, could make me feel more whole. Learned how to fall in love with strangers, for brief moments in my life, the serendipity we shared will stay suspended now in time. I have crossed many oceans, in search of myself, climbed through the mountains, to know truth in what I felt. What has it meant for me, to go out in search of meaning? Savoring the seconds in every new beginning? Because life is just a cycle, of lessons we repeat, from when we're born, in different forms, until the karma is complete. So pay attention to the details, because it's not always the same, synchronicities that guide you back the way you came. The universe will take you, exactly where you need to go, combined with fate, which we create, is all we need to know. So here I am now, having reached this journey's end, a resurrected soul ready to live her life again. #abovethecoast #beenawhile #alysonnoelepoetry (at California)

In my favorite pod with me favorite pea 👯💕🌱Thank you @atakgallery @atakearth @adrianatak @ladywilson Ghost in a Cloak Society for an amazing night! (at Analog Tattoo Arts Kolectiv SF)

Learning how to make spaces in homes 🏡❣️😌 (at Boonville, California)

What I call a summer day 😎🙌🏽