Myth

by Terese Mason Pierre

Myth, the much-anticipated debut collection from the multi-talented Terese Mason Pierre, weaves between worlds (‘real’ and ‘imaginary’) unearthing the our jaded and joyful relationships to land, ancestry, trauma, self, and future. In three movements and two interludes, the poems in Myth move symphonically from tropical islands to barren cities, from lucid dreams to the mysteries of reality, from the sea to the cosmos. A dynamic mix of speculative poetry and ecstatic lyricism, the otherworldly and the sublime, Pierre’s poems never stray too long or too far from the spell of unspoiled “The palm trees nod / at the ocean / the ocean does / what it always does / trusts the moon completely.”

Friends ‘with benefits’ tour the wonders of Grenada’s landscapes; extraterrestrials visit the Caribbean and the locals don’t seem phased; red birds “saunter airily like tourists,” La Diablesse lures helpless suitors to their dooms. This collection How can myths manifest themselves in our daily lives? What do we actually mean when we say we love ourselves and others? And how do we pursue/create futures that honour our truths, histories and legacies?

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Ais · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book of poetry in the mornings as I watched the sunrise. I admit that I didn’t really understand the stories being talked about — I suspect the author has her own personal mythology and the language used was an expression of that — but the words did provoke feelings that washed over me as I read. Feelings of melancholy and trauma, deep culture and love, nostalgia and becoming. And I suppose that’s what poetry is meant to do.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost glad I left this collection til summer. I say almost because it is so good. But it is an amazing summer read, filled with water, and the politics of vacations and islands, and hot damn is it HOT. Sexy and steamy in sections. This thing is so good I could talk about it forever, but it would probably just be in yours and my best interest if we both just read it (in my case, again!)

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't really put into words how sublime this poetry collection is, by Terese Mason Pierre, whose work I have long admired. It's one of the best, most gripping poetry collections I've read in my life. The things she shares whether about childhood, culture, being a woman of colour, of magic, and capturing so many emotions, are all things that make this a must-read for any poetry lover.

[Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, tenderness, lineage and mermaids, among other cool images. Favourite lines include: “I love /these lies, how they recipe around/a body like foil and wax paper” from ‘Sweet’. But honestly I have post-its next to more favourite lines throughout my copy and I will reread it multiple times

[Madeline Rossell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the poem "Aliens Visit the Islands" in 'Manifest,' and I was equally excited to see it here as well.

Terese outdoes herself!

[Iara Moure · Rating 1 out of 5]

No le presté mucha atención y creo que eso dice todo

[Manuela Amiouny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal.