Why read Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth?

Book cover of Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth

Book description

What elevates 'teaching my mother how to give birth', what gives the poems their disturbing brilliance, is Warsan Shire's ability to give simple, beautiful eloquence to the veiled world where sensuality lives in the dominant narrative of Islam; reclaiming the more nuanced truths of earlier times - as in Tayeb…

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Poetry

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Why read it?

1 author picked Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Alicia Cook

Author

This was the first modern book of poetry that ever made me cry. Warsan Shire crafts vivid, unflinching images in little words. I felt seen thanks to her ability to explore the intimate, isolating nature of personal trauma in such a universal, collective way.

This was my first modern poetry experience and helped me to better understand the healing and connective power of poetry. I wanted to read more from Shire immediately, and, as a poet myself, I wanted to learn from her.

From Alicia's list on The best modern poetry books for days when life is doing the most.