She Holds a Cosmos: Poems on Motherhood

by Kimiko Hahn (Forward), Karolin Schnoor (Illustration), Mallory Farrugia (Editor)

A petite, beautifully packaged collection of poems about motherhood, this is the perfect gift for mothers of all ages.This beautifully illustrated, empowering collection features more than 25 poignant poems about the incredible experience of being a mother. Filled with inspiring and moving poetry exploring motherhood in all its dimensions—from pregnancy and birth to the countless joys, struggles, and hilarious moments that come with raising children—this book is a perfect gift for mothers at every stage, whether they're expecting or empty nesting. Presented in a petite, eye-catching package with contemporary illustrations throughout, this is a lovely, arresting tribute to the life-altering journey of motherhood.• POETRY Featuring young, contemporary voices beside beloved, time-tested poets, this pretty, slim volume will appeal to poetry lovers and mothers of all ages.• CELEBRATES DIVERSE The range of poets included in this collection is wide and diverse. With poems by up-and-comers, classic poets, women, and men, of all ages and ethnicities, this book captures a broad, representative spectrum of the experience of motherhood.• Mothers of all ages• Poetry lovers

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2021

About the author

Kimiko Hahn is the author of seven poetry collections. The Unbearable Heart won the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award. She has received numerous grants, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and a Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Award. She teaches at Queens College/The City University of New York.

Reviews

[Carly A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyday I wake up and wish I was a poetry bitch, and then I read poetry and remember there’s a good reason I am not a poetry bitch

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very much put off this book right from the start due to Kimiko Hahn’s introduction. The author says a male critic attempted “censorship” by negatively reviewing her book – that is not what censorship is. The book was already published and out in the world, and the critic (however rude or dismissive he may have been) was not attempting to have the book destroyed, or for the author to suffer any consequences for writing it. Criticism is not censorship. It is damaging to misuse a word like that.

Hahn then, for no apparent reason, goes on to condemn women who use toddler reins. There are many reasons someone might choose to use these, such as having a child with additional needs who cannot be taught not to run into the street, or being a parent with physical needs so you cannot physically hold or run after your child. It seems foolish to present a book as loving and celebrating all mothers, and then having this horrible and needless judgement again some mothers right there in the introduction. I’m not a mother and have never used toddler reins – but if I was, and I had, I would feel very judged by this introduction. It really left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.

Which is really a shame, because the poems are all great, and well selected. My favourites were ‘Outside the New Body’ by Keetje Kuipers, ‘Self Portrait in the Backyard as Mother’ by Nicole Cooley, ‘I Want the World’ by Brenda Shaughnessy, ‘Hours Days Years Unmoor Their Orbits’ by Rachel Zucker, ‘The Real Reason’ by Ada Limón, and ‘my mama moves among the days’ by Lucille Clifton – but there wasn't a bad poem in the whole book.

If I hadn't read the introduction and had only read the poems, it would be 5 stars. But I have to review the book as a whole.

[Arlan Alviz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC through NetGalley.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. Wrapped in such tenderness and wisdom, each poem is a magical tribute to motherhood and to its accompanying joys, challenges, and complexities. I particularly liked that it emphasizes mother as a verb rather than circumscribing the word in a cage as something merely akin to biology and sex. Schnoor's beautiful illustrations made the experience more impactful and refreshing. The only problem with this is that it's too short. I would have liked it even better if the editor included some more poems. Nevertheless, this is a precious collection filled with so much poignancy and insight. For everyone who mothers, this one is for you.

[Heather Alderman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short poetry book centered around motherhood. I liked how the poems focused on the different stages of motherhood from pregnancy on up and beautiful illustrations.

[Violeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital ARC provided by Netgalley

The artwork was amazing. I was very intrigued when I first saw the graphic and the title.

However even if I liked some of the poems on motherhood and I have read others before this book, I could not truly say that the book reached the expectations I had. I liked more the introduction by Kimiko Hahn than some of the poems.

[Kaitlynn Stout · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was nothing like what I expected. The cover made me so excited, thinking it would link the mundane and the magic of motherhood, and that there would be more references to astrology/cosmos. The foreword was nice. Roughly 75% of the poems are difficult to understand, which of course is subjective. The art was my favorite part, although I didn't see any mention of who the artist is.

[Amy Holford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems ruminating on the power of motherhood. Some I loved more than others. These lines stood out to me:
‘she got us almost through the high grass
then seemed like she turned around and ran
right back in
right back on in’

Certainly a short reprieve to read in the challenging first few weeks of my daughters life, making me proud to call myself “mother,” and excited and solemn for this great adventure ahead.

[Hana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book - I loved the concept of delving deep into all the iterations of mother, mothering and motherhood.

However, as with some other reviewers have mentioned here, I too was put off a little by the introduction. It did not set the book up well.

I didn’t connect with many of these poems. Some felt very rambling and others just poorly written. The collection of poems could have been so much richer and diverse.

I’ve given this two stars, for a few snatched phrases that have lingered since. I’m also so aware that poetry is very subjective and what might have read poorly to me will have been beautiful to others.

[☽｡⋆ Shells (jlreads_) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

I can not get into the collection.

[Maya Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a new mother, who’s baby entered this world immediately into the NICU for his first month of life. This made me cry, and made me smile. Some of the poems I thought I didn’t understand, but I felt them inside me. I feel inspired to write poetry about my son, and about my motherhood. Thank you for creating this book.

I feel like I was supposed to find this book. I went into my local bookstore and asked where the poetry section was. They pointed me in the direction of a very small shelf, only spines facing out with no more than two copies of each book on the shelf. Without reading the title I pulled ‘She Holds a Cosmos’ out, and I knew it was a sign. I’ve been struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, and I’ve been searching for comfort, little did I know what true comfort I’d find in these pages. This is a book that I’ll keep close for the years to come as my son grows, and I’ll be able to take something different every time I read it. I also think I’ll buy it for my friends at their baby showers, because this is a book new mothers should read.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley for the free e-ARC.*
I thought this was an average read, I expected more philosophical or illusionary poetry. I think there was too much focus on motherhood as a biological sense especially when the book says that they are not intending to make it a biological function. I was not moved by any of the poems. So, I gave this book 3 stars because I thought it was average, not good but not bad.
Now the illustrations were amazing! My favorite part of this work was the illustrations. The illustrator did a fabulous job!

[Shorouq · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful set of poems that portraits mother in various fashions, with excellent words that could be used in a greeting card or a quote in general. Multiple minds created this book to celebrate mothers all across the globe.
Even though I did find many lines that I favoured and wrote them down as I went along with the book it was still quite difficult to go through the whole thing and understand the idea of each poem.

[Brandi Kozuch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This anthology contained a couple of decent poems that were either relatable or interesting. The introduction was cringy and had some moments of mum shaming. The rest of the poems were incomprehensible.
Lovely artwork though!

[Tara Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting variety, lovely illustrations

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were 3 poems that stirred me. I wish I appreciated poetry more deeply; perhaps I could have pulled more meaning from this collection.

[Amanda Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved the illustrations. I wish it were longer.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced readers copy of this book thanks to @netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book and the poetry and loved all of the illustrations. I want to print them and hang them all over my home. The first image is the cover I received and the second is another image for the book. The poems were elegant and beautiful and I would love to give this to new mothers or as a mother's day gift. I wish there are had been more poems, but I also like the idea of it being a small collection which would make it a nice gift.

I didn't love the introduction. I didn't think it had the right flow or tone as the rest of the book. I think that part could have been done better.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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Even though I’m not a mother myself, nor am I planning on being one in the next couple of years, I really did enjoy reading these beautiful poems. I really enjoy reading different perspectives and I really adored the way all the raw emotions were expressed and portrayed throughout these beautiful pieces of poetry.

As previously stated it’s hard to fully related to these poems, and I found it more relatable from the perspective of a daughter, rather than the mother, it truly makes you think and appreciate the feelings and love mother’s express, often without your own knowledge. The emotions almost leap out of the page at you, and is just so thought provoking and moving in many ways. You can truly feel the pain and grief of in some and the irrevocable and undying love conveyed overall, it’s really uplifting to read.

Not only are the poems themselves breathtaking but the illustrations throughout are just as charming. They feel really wholesome and uplifting.

Overall, although I am not a mother, I still felt very touched to read such beautiful perspectives into motherhood and would recommend this to any parent, soon to be parent or just someone who enjoys beautiful poetry as a whole.

[Annie MacPherson]

*Abandoned* Unfortunately, I do not have the patience for poetry right now. Maybe at a later point in motherhood I can reflect on the profundity of the experience through poetry. As I prepare to give birth, I find myself in a state of firm lucidity after years of blurriness and artistic chaos. My mindset is more of a manual these days than a poem, and I am grateful for that.