My Mother's Body

Viac o knihe

My Mother's Body, Marge Piercy's tenth poetry collection, derives its title from a poignant poem that culminates a sequence dedicated to her mother. This work delves into the complex and intimate dynamics of the mother/daughter relationship, offering both a harrowing and ecstatic exploration of continuity and identification. "The Chuppah" features poems from her wedding ceremony with Ira Wood, celebrating powerful female love. Throughout the collection, Piercy's Jewish identity and faith are prominently woven into her verses. Readers familiar with Piercy's earlier works will recognize her signature blend of the personal and political, alongside her affection for animals and the Cape landscape. The poems address a variety of themes, including housework, accidents, dreams, societal issues like nuclear fears, and the objectification of women. In "Does the light fail us, or do we fail the light?" she candidly reflects on relationships with the elderly and her father. Some of the most poignant pieces are domestic, particularly in the concluding sequence, "Six underrated pleasures," which reveals the joy and mystery found in everyday women's tasks, affirming self and maternal connections. Overall, this collection stands out as one of Piercy's most powerful and balanced works.