This was such a raw collection of poems that took physical and emotional pain to another level, with Chatti reflecting on the harrowing experience of finding a tumor found in her uterus and dealing with excessive bleeding. Woven into this narrative are thought-provoking ideas about faith (specifically Islamic) and womanhood that, again, consider the pain that comes with them. I found Chatti’s exploration of the complexities of shame and suffering in relation to womanhood especially compelling, and I thought it was interesting how she successfully conveyed this with such precision while also simultaneously evoking the messiness of it all. Furthermore, there was a really interesting theme throughout this collection that showed an intimate connection between the speaker and the Virgin Mary that I wish I better understood but couldn’t quite make sense of.

These poems were so distinct and personal, so much that it almost felt invasive and I felt a bit out of my depth as someone who is neither a woman nor religious. However, it’s a collection I’m glad to have read to continue to see how poets are more than capable of evoking such strong imagery and emotions.