She Tries Her Tongue, Her Silence Softly Breaks

She Tries Her Tongue, Her Silence Softly Breaks is a poetry collection published in 1989 by Caribbean-Canadian poet M. NourbeSe Philip. The book won the Casa de las Américas Prize. The poems trace a path through colonization, language, and the female body, drawing from Philip's experiences as a Caribbean woman in the diaspora. Through experimental forms and linguistic innovations, the text moves between Standard English and Caribbean Creole. The collection incorporates historical documents, etymology, and fragments of text to examine the relationship between mother tongue and colonial language. Philip structures the work around themes of displacement, translation, and the search for authentic voice. The poems create a space to interrogate how language shapes identity and memory, particularly for those who must navigate between imposed and inherited forms of expression. This exploration raises questions about power, belonging, and the possibilities for reclaiming narrative through poetic innovation.

Readers note the book's experimental poetry techniques and focus on language, colonialism, and Caribbean identity. Many say it requires multiple readings to grasp the layered meanings. Readers appreciated: - The innovative use of language and word play - Exploration of mother-daughter relationships - Commentary on linguistic colonization - Powerful imagery around Caribbean experiences Common criticisms: - Dense and challenging to understand on first read - Some poems feel fragmented and disjointed - Academic style can be off-putting for casual readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.35/5 (78 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating Sample reader comment: "The poems demand work from the reader but reward that work with deep insights about language and power" (Goodreads reviewer) Most readers recommend approaching the collection as an academic text rather than casual reading, noting that background knowledge of postcolonial theory helps with interpretation.

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🌟 M. NourbeSe Philip wrote this groundbreaking collection while recovering from jaw surgery, during which her mouth was wired shut – a powerful metaphor for the book's themes of silencing and finding voice. 📚 The book's title comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, specifically the story of Philomela, who was silenced through violence but found a way to tell her story through weaving. 🏆 This poetry collection won the Casa de las Américas Prize in 1988, making Philip the first Anglophone writer to receive this prestigious Cuban literary award. 🗣️ The text experiments with language by deliberately fracturing English grammar and syntax, reflecting the violent disruption of African languages during colonization and slavery. 🌍 Philip draws on her experience as a former lawyer turned poet from Trinidad and Tobago, weaving together themes of colonial history, motherhood, and the complex relationship between language and power.