dOMESTIC WORK poems by Natasha Trethewey

Domestic Work

Natasha Trethewey, the poetess, writes a memory poem on every page. As I read each poem in "doMESTIC WORK, I realized these poems were memories and celebrations of hard working African Americans. The poems are so special and so beautiful I had to look at the poems in a personal way. Natasha Trethewey's poetry made me cry, smile, laugh and ponder my life. I remember my mother using Dixie Peach on my hair. To keep our kitchen cool while straightening my hair my mother kept the back door open. Every once in a while a cool breeze would come through the door. The cool breeze did not keep my mother from sweating. I would turn around and see the the beads of sweat on her upper lip. Our neighbors would say " she can fix some bad hair."

Natasha Trethewey, with her poetry, snapped a photo of  the thoughts in my mind and the feelings in my heart. She also wrote about my mother's masectomy. I have heard no one describe how it felt to see my mother pin bundled handkerchiefs inside her dress to appear as her missing breast. My mother was not a complainer. Whatever she felt after that operation she did not share. She held it inside of her heart. I'm sure she must have cried at night in her pillow. She would never have wanted to worry my father. Indeed, Natasha Trethewey writes a memorable book of poetry. dOMESTIC WORK by Natasha Trethewey is a winner of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize.