MWSA Review

This collection of  30 poems by Magdalena ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson seeks to evoke and illustrate the many aspects of motherhood. In the first half of the book, the poems by Magdalena Ball evoke a cosmic quality and imagery. Coil of Life', for example, refers to the birthing process, as the 'Big Bang,' an unusual metaphor. In 'Assault by a Black Hole', the reader is taken on a journey from the sublime to the commonplace intended to bring a smile to the lips of the reader.

Howard-Johnson's contributions to the collection are less ethereal and more "down to earth." For her motherhood is a sacerdotal role that is accomplished by the day to day nature of life, by example and by a mixture of tenderness, sternness and inner strength.

If you're a fan of modern poetry this is a worthwhile book.

Reviewed by: David Tschanz (2010)

Author's Synopsis

"[Both] poets continue to write poems that don't sound either like banal Hallmark cards or the bitter-at-dysfunctional-family jeremiads that habitually torture MFA writing workshop participants." 
~Kristin Johnson, screenwriter and founder of the Warrior Poets Project
 
She Wore Emerald Then is collaboration on the subject of motherhood by award-winning poets Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, both of them mothers and daughters. They worked together on a book of love poetry called Cherished Pulse to the acclaim of reviewers. She Wore Emerald Then is available as both an e-chapbook and paperback and is illustrated with tender photographs by May Lattanzio.  As it happens, it was released the week of death of Carolyn's mother--a fitting tribute.