Poetry Corner: The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One by Amanda Lovelace

Warning 1:

this is not a fairy witch tale. ~ Opening of The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One

The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One (Women Are Some Kind of Magic #2) by Amanda Lovelace
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2018
Poetry; 208 pgs
Source: E-Copy provided by Publisher via NetGalley

Sometimes the title is enough to make me want to read a book, and it was in this case. When I first saw mention of this collection of poetry, I knew I would read it. I even ran out and bought a copy of the first book in the poet's Women Are Some Kind of Magic series, The Princess Saves Herself In This One. That one is on my TBR stack, which I will be reading and sharing with you at a later date.

The Witch Doesn't Burn In This One is not about witches, not exactly. It is about women. It is about how women are oppressed, marginalized, and judged--and about their strength and resilience.   This collection is full of emotion. Rage, but not guilt. No shame. Empowerment and ownership of who we are. I had to remind myself it was one voice, one poet, writing the words. When I read the words out loud and in my head, they were the voice of many.

While historically more women accused of witchcraft were hanged than burned at the stake, the theme of burning witches is ingrained in our culture. Throughout this collection, Lovelace uses that imagery to make a powerful statement--through matches and flame and ash.

I loved the homages throughout to other books or characters. It was something that called out to the reader in me.

Here just a sampling of the poems in the collection that spoke to me:

they scratched it

out of the history books.

but on all the

great innovations

you will find

scorch marks

in the shape of

a woman's 

magnificent 

handprint.

do not forget

we need to be

the history books

now.

- women are libraries about to burst. [pg 38]

*

society

wrapped

a corset

around us,

fisted

the strings

& pulled

tight

as if

tuning

a new 

violin,

&

until we

cut them

away

& 

pull out

the 

bones

we will

never discover

who we

 truly are.

- unlearn this normalized self-hatred. [pg 88]

*

womanhood

doesn't 

have to be

this twisted 

competition.

let us

cultivate

womanhood

until it grows

into sisterhood.

we'll sprinkle

lavender seeds

into our

old wounds

until we're finally

h e a l e d.

-  your sisters are not your enemies. [pg 117]

*

you

think

your body

is made up

of mostly

water,

but 

really

your body

is made up

of mostly 

poetry.

wherever you go,

you leave behind

puddles of words in your wake.

collect the

integral pieces

of yourself

&

call the

words back.

you deserve

to be whole again.

- the sign you've been waiting for II. [pg 156]

*

today

you are

the fire

& tomorrow

you will be

the sea

& they'll

have no choice

but to hear your siren song.

- amanda lovelace [pg 185]

What do you think? Do any of these poems speak to you? Have you read any poetry lately?

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