WEARING MY MOTHER'S HEART

Sophia Thakur narrates her collection of poems exploring aspects of womanhood, joined by Nalini Thakur for some individual pieces. Author Thakur's voice is whispery, slow, insistent--demanding listeners' attention. They should give it, for each poem stands on its own, offering occasional internal rhymes and often startling figurative language. They provide glimpses of hearts loving: partners', children's, parents', ancestors', God's. Sometimes that love tips into despair, as being a woman of color in England who is fighting misogyny and racism is not easy, nor is the ever-present risk of heartbreak. Nalini Thakur's rich West African accent contrasts with the author's London inflections, emphasizing the diasporic legacy these women carry and reinforcing the chain of generational love that strings these poems together. A testament to women's strength. V.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]