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Words for My Mother
by Monica K. Allen
21 Poems ~ 39 Pages
Price: $15.00
Publisher: Monica K. Allen
ISBN: 979-8-9921627-0-7
To Order: monicakayallen@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Monica K. Allen’s self-published chapbook creates poetic snapshots of living with a disabled mother and losing her to the COVID-19 pandemic. This collection leads the reader through fond memories, graphic and harrowing moments, disenfranchised grief, and not least, the bonding love between a mother and daughter.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
I recall the death of my mother from metastatic stomach cancer when she was just fifty-six. I live today with the void she left. She was easy to talk to and a good listener. She gave me a keen sense of personal worth. Her legacy remains with me to this day. Reading the heartfelt poems by Monica K. Allen is like a sweet nectar of memories that I imbibe each time I sit down with Words For My Mother in hand. In one of Monica’s poems, she writes: “I sing less / I listen more” That sort of captures my own sentiments. Whatever “mother-memories” readers have, chances are that Monica has touched on at least one of them. Please read the full poem below.
–Michael Escoubas, author of Ripples Into the Light: PhotoPoetry with artist Vandana Bajikar
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Monica K. Allen is a loving mom, professional organizer, who helps people plan projects and/or work more productively in real time, an activist, and poet living in Minnesota. Before taking up these activities she worked as a professional pianist and piano teacher. Two months after losing her beloved mother to Covid, Monica was diagnosed with Stage 2A, Grade 3, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. A few months later she took an online Intro to Poetry course to promote healing. She hasn’t stopped writing since. Monica hopes her poetry helps others to feel less alone in this wild world.
FROM THE BOOK:
I’m Just a Bird
by Monica K. Allen
I lost my mother bird
I lost my little bell
I sing less
I listen more
My cage door is open
My food and water haven’t run out
My dwelling is getting a bit messy
I hear birdsongs extending invitations
I notice interesting motions outside
I see dangers also
I am living with this beaked face and
am stuck in this headspace
I am not sure when I will
fly the coop
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