Smiling woman with long hair in front of abstract painting, surrounded by torn paper effect and flower graphic.

Allison Mei-Li

Poet. Mother. Meaning-Maker.

I write poems that feel lived-in, shaped by small moments and what it means to be human. You’ll find my words in literary journals, at gatherings, & in my forthcoming book.

  • Cluster of white chrysanthemum flowers blooming in a garden.

    Published Work

    Poetry, book reviews, & articles published in Only Poems, Rust & Moth, Coffee & Crumbs, and more.

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  • Open book with handwritten text, a gold tassel bookmark, surrounded by candles and flowers.

    Events

    Events and creative offerings, both in person and online. Reach out if you have an idea for collaboration.

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  • Wooden desk with open compartments, a silver laptop with a floral sticker, a lamp, a shell, a basket with notes, mugs with plants, a photo, and framed artwork on the wall.

    Substack: To Be Seen

    Thoughts from the writing desk. Book-in-progress, the creative process, and everything in-between.

    Join me
  • Flat lay image featuring two cards with poetry titled 'Becoming,' a gold pen, a small dish with paperclips, and a flower vase on a light surface.

    Prints

    A curated selection of prints based on my original poems, designed to frame, gift, and keep.

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Follow Along @writtenbyallison

Lately, I’ve been exploring what it means to bring my writing off the page—into rooms, conversations, and offerings that create connection in real life. Sharing a few favorite lines from my latest Substack post about taking my writing be
Can you imagine turning away from your first sunrise? I’d never seen anything shine so bright.
A few poems on motherhood, gathered in one place. "One Million Shimmering Moons" and "Crystal Sun" - published in @coffeeandcrumbs "If I Had My Own" - published in @wildscapelit "Born" - published in @voice
A new poem in honor of Mother’s Day. ✨ I wrote “Becoming” to honor the quiet transformation of motherhood—how each day asks something new of us, no matter where we are in our journey. If you’d like to gift this as a pr