Sean Barrs 's Reviews > Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth
Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth
by
by
Through Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth the empowerment of women becomes like a burning tempest kindled up by the rawness of Warsan Shire’s words. The poems are also about reality, the horrors that some people have to face in a word driven by war. They carry with them such human depth, none more so than the poem In Love and In War.
“To my daughter I will say
‘when the men come, set yourself on fire.’”
The poem is only two lines, but it establishes the tone for the rest of the work; it acts like a summary for one of her strongest ideals, that of personal and cultural integrity.
Shire does not compromise. The idea of setting oneself on fire is tangible to suicide. The men are coming, the soldiers and sons of war, so let us end it before they can touch us. This can be read as an act by a woman burning herself to avoid the objectifying effects that are coming her way. Historically speaking, the women of an invaded country often become the greatest victims. We all know what humans can do when in a blood frenzy. By committing suicide these daughters can avoid the worse of such possible crimes. But the act of setting oneself on fire can be read in a different way, a much brighter way.
Like all great poetry, multiple readings come out of Shire’s words. I like to think of the fire as a metaphorical flame of individuality. When the invaders come, set your hearts ablaze and remember who you are; remember your culture; remember your language: remember you. When the men come do no lose this sense of you to the superimposing of another’s beliefs. Become angry, fight against it, rage at the injustice and learn how to beat it. But at the very root of it all, never ever forget. In such an idea Shire establishes the authority of the individual’s voice.
How about love? As a woman entering a relationship set yourself on fire in the same sense, do not become meek and docile: do not allow him to take over. This reading feels like one of the strongest. If you compare this to the ideas that are manifested in the spoken word poem For Women Who are Difficult to Love it becomes more evident. The ideas empower women and suggest that if you are volatile, if your personality is like that of a fire, do not quench yourself: carry on. Be yourself, he is not worthy if he cannot love you for you: keep that fire burning.
There’s also another reading that comes here, tangible to the first instance of suicide. When men are near and love is close, set yourself on fire and avoid heartache. But, I do not overly belief in this one; it can be read in the poem, but when comparing it to Shire’s body of work it seems far too pessimistic. Shire is about empowering women not destroying life. She is a humanist; thus, there is much to be taken from her words. They are words that need to be heard now more than ever as the world becomes increasingly multi-cultural and transgendered, understanding the perspective of others is vital for the development of a more accepting world. This is a very powerful collection of poetry.
“To my daughter I will say
‘when the men come, set yourself on fire.’”
The poem is only two lines, but it establishes the tone for the rest of the work; it acts like a summary for one of her strongest ideals, that of personal and cultural integrity.
Shire does not compromise. The idea of setting oneself on fire is tangible to suicide. The men are coming, the soldiers and sons of war, so let us end it before they can touch us. This can be read as an act by a woman burning herself to avoid the objectifying effects that are coming her way. Historically speaking, the women of an invaded country often become the greatest victims. We all know what humans can do when in a blood frenzy. By committing suicide these daughters can avoid the worse of such possible crimes. But the act of setting oneself on fire can be read in a different way, a much brighter way.
Like all great poetry, multiple readings come out of Shire’s words. I like to think of the fire as a metaphorical flame of individuality. When the invaders come, set your hearts ablaze and remember who you are; remember your culture; remember your language: remember you. When the men come do no lose this sense of you to the superimposing of another’s beliefs. Become angry, fight against it, rage at the injustice and learn how to beat it. But at the very root of it all, never ever forget. In such an idea Shire establishes the authority of the individual’s voice.
How about love? As a woman entering a relationship set yourself on fire in the same sense, do not become meek and docile: do not allow him to take over. This reading feels like one of the strongest. If you compare this to the ideas that are manifested in the spoken word poem For Women Who are Difficult to Love it becomes more evident. The ideas empower women and suggest that if you are volatile, if your personality is like that of a fire, do not quench yourself: carry on. Be yourself, he is not worthy if he cannot love you for you: keep that fire burning.
There’s also another reading that comes here, tangible to the first instance of suicide. When men are near and love is close, set yourself on fire and avoid heartache. But, I do not overly belief in this one; it can be read in the poem, but when comparing it to Shire’s body of work it seems far too pessimistic. Shire is about empowering women not destroying life. She is a humanist; thus, there is much to be taken from her words. They are words that need to be heard now more than ever as the world becomes increasingly multi-cultural and transgendered, understanding the perspective of others is vital for the development of a more accepting world. This is a very powerful collection of poetry.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Started Reading
December 1, 2016
– Shelved
December 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
contemporary-lit
December 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
postcolonial
December 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
poetry
December 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
4-star-reads
December 1, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-11 of 11 (11 new)
date
newest »
message 1:
by
Amira MT
(new)
-
added it
Dec 01, 2016 06:22AM
;uu; this is brilliant
reply
|
flag
Very interesting analysis. It's incredible how many ways one can interpret a few words. I'm torn between the idea of the fire as self-destruction or as empowerment, but I suppose both motivations serve the same purpose: they are means by which a woman can protect her own heart and body.
Poetry doesn't interest me much, mainly because its meaning is often obscure to me, although I have enjoyed the more straightforward spoken-word poets.
Poetry doesn't interest me much, mainly because its meaning is often obscure to me, although I have enjoyed the more straightforward spoken-word poets.
Malcolm wrote: "Very interesting analysis. It's incredible how many ways one can interpret a few words. I'm torn between the idea of the fire as self-destruction or as empowerment, but I suppose both motivations s..."
It really can be read both ways- imagine how many ways you can look at a large poem if you take it apart like this- so many readings come out.
It really can be read both ways- imagine how many ways you can look at a large poem if you take it apart like this- so many readings come out.
beautiful review Sean. I totally agreed
Should be heard by all - no qualifying gendered.
Heard from her own mouth they are more effective - I've both heard and read.
Thanks for openining my mind to new perspectives on this - I got rather stuck on the outrage - war scenario.
Should be heard by all - no qualifying gendered.
Heard from her own mouth they are more effective - I've both heard and read.
Thanks for openining my mind to new perspectives on this - I got rather stuck on the outrage - war scenario.
Sofia wrote: "beautiful review Sean. I totally agreed
Should be heard by all - no qualifying gendered.
Heard from her own mouth they are more effective - I've both heard and read.
Thanks for openining my mind t..."
Thanks for the kind words, I've been meaning to review this for ages and I was darting through it and saw that poem and it just struck me, excellent stuff.
Should be heard by all - no qualifying gendered.
Heard from her own mouth they are more effective - I've both heard and read.
Thanks for openining my mind t..."
Thanks for the kind words, I've been meaning to review this for ages and I was darting through it and saw that poem and it just struck me, excellent stuff.
This honestly is an incredible review. When I was reading the line you mentioned which you analyzed so damn well, my first thought was the literal meaning to burn yourself- commit suicide as historical images crossed my mind. However, it can also mean the flame inside of you, to be brave, look them in the eye and not be afraid, and that is beautiful. Your words ‘Shire is about empowering women not destroying life’ absolutely in love.