Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays: A House of Bottles by Robin Merrill

I received this poetry book from the author and thought of posting this poem as a teaser. As the book blurb says, her poems are "edgy, troubling and unadorned, daring one to be vulnerable." Sometimes funny, sometimes frank.

She said, "I watched her choke,

on chicken blood and gin, and dance until
the witchdoctor took her in-
to his hut and I heard her hurt
and he came out and grinned, pronounced her
banished. My family sent me with her.
I gather sticks to burn, search for food,
fetch water from the well. I am stronger
than the old women. I am nine.
I am the witch's granddaughter."

When I asked her what she wanted to be
when she grew up, she answered, "you."

Yani Camp
-Ghana, 2006

~page 4, A House of Bottles by Robin Merrill

26 comments:

Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com said...

Sounds like a good book for learning about the little girl's views of her own culture. Interesting!

Teaser, certainly works for me. Good choice.

Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com said...

Oh, forgot to leave my link! :)

http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2009/09/teaser-tuesdays-blue-cotton-gown.html

There, I feel so much better now!

Teddyree said...

What a great teaser, I'm not much for poetry but that was kind of cool!
Here's my Teaser

Marjorie said...

That is rather searing! Thank you for highlighting it...

Jennifer said...

Intense teaser. Well done! Mine is here: http://rundpinne.blogspot.com/2009/09/footsteps-in-dark-teaser-tuesdays.html

jlshall said...

Yes, that does indeed sound edgy and troubling. Haven't read much poetry lately - I need to get back to it. Great teaser!

Anonymous said...

Now that is striking. Uncomfortable but intriguing none the less.

Tea said...

That's a powerful poem. When she said "you," it pulled something out of me. I caught the feeling. Need to think about the meaning. Loved your Tuesday Teaser. Thank you.

Book Dragon said...

are they all like that? I loved it

Thanks so much for stopping by my Tuesday Teaser

kayerj said...

sounds interesting. thanks for stopping by.

Wendi said...

Thanks for sharing - I don't often read poetry. This was powerful and descriptive!

Here's my Teaser! ~ Wendi

Zia said...

Thats a great teaser!

Beth F said...

Wow! I think I'll have to tack this down and I don't normally read poetry!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's quite a teaser.

Krista said...

Oh, for real this sounds like a book for me!! I will definitely be looking for this!

Mine is up as well here

Anonymous said...

that's an interesting teaser I'm not a poetry person per se, although there are some poems that I did enjoy reading when I was attending school.

Brenda said...

I'm not usually into poetry, but that sounds really different and interesting!

Anonymous said...

This isn't something I'd usually be into, but I really liked that teaser! Great choice!
Here's my Teaser Tuesday.

The Social Frog said...

Not something I would normally read myself but it does sound very interesting! Great teaser.

Lisa said...

That's a really interesting teaser! Definitely sounds like something to check out.

My teaser is here.

Staci said...

Great teaser....loved that poem!

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Leslie said...

wow that was great!

Bryan R. Terry said...

That's a great poem. Is the book for general retail yet?

My teaser's HERE

Veens said...

I don't think I can ever read a whole book of poetry...! But this was great.. a unique teaser!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous you bought ten books last weekend. Lucky girl!