The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

“To Claim What Has Tried to Claim Me”: A Roundtable on Asian-American Poetics

The New Yorker: Poetry

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The Complexity of Mother-Daughter Relationships Explored in a Poem

The poem 'To Be a Daughter and to Have a Daughter' delves into the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships, highlighting the challenges and intricacies faced by women in different roles. It portrays the struggle of balancing personal creativity with the responsibilities of motherhood, symbolized by the mother 'keeping the baby safe from herself' while engaging in creative pursuits. The poem reflects on the intergenerational connections and complexities within families, exploring themes of protection, sacrifice, and the evolving nature of relationships over time.

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