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A review by serendipitysbooks
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. It is the first full length poetry collection by this Somali British poet and reflects the realities of Black Muslim women from immigrant and refugee backgrounds, realities that include both great sorrow and great joy. I found it to a be really accessible collection and was at times blown away by the sheer power of Shire’s words. Home (well-known apparently but new to me) was a standout, succinctly and starkly explaining the reality of the decision to flee home and of being a refugee. Plenty of imagery from other poems grabbed my attention too - “…Amel’s hardened nipples push/through the paisley of her blouse, minarets/
calling men to worship.” Highly recommended, especially if you are looking for an accessible relevant contemporary collection.
calling men to worship.” Highly recommended, especially if you are looking for an accessible relevant contemporary collection.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racism, Rape, and War