Threed, This Road Not Damascus

by Tamara J. Madison

Threed, This Road Not Damascus is a full-length poetry collection and dialogue between the speaker and other-worldly persona, “Three-Breasted Woman.” Empowered and empowering, “Three-Breasted Woman” defies feminine stereotypes of comfort, clean-up, and “damsel in distress.” Congruently, Threed, This Road Not Damascus confronts fear and chaos with clarity and courage in a distinctive feminine voice. The poems employ the ancestral and mythological to respond to the contemporary social landscape.

Genres: Poetry

86 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2019

About the author

Tamara J. Madison is a published writer, poet, editor, performer and college-level instructor of English and Creative Writing.

Her latest collection of poetry, Threed, This Road Not Damascus, was recently released through Trio House Press in May 2019. She is also the author of Kentucky Curdled, a collection of poetry and essay, and Collard County, a collection of short stories.

She is the creator and host of BREAKDOWN: The Poet & The Poems a monthly showcase and poetry conversation featuring a guest poet discussing poetry as inspiration and motivation for every day lives (https://www.youtube.com/c/Tamarajmadi...).

For more information, find her home on the web at http://www.tamarajmadison.com.

A note about her reviews on Goodreads: "My reviews are based on my pleasure. I do not review books here on Goodreads as a literary critic. I appreciate work that I relate to as well as work that makes me wrestle and tussle and grow whether I completely like/understand it or not."

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this volume through the Goodreads Giveaway. These poems are visceral and raw-- but also lyrical and smooth. My favorites were Manifesto: The Ten Commandments, Poet's Consummation (I cried and read the last portion like 7 times), Postcard, and Psalms. Beautiful work.

[Che · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a writer is a reader, it shows in the writing. Tamara's poetry shows a great admiration for the genius female writers who've shaped her. Rich with history and soaked in black girl magic, her poetry celebrates the legacy from which she descends. I enjoyed the word play, her vivid descriptions, and her poetry's quiet confidence.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Nab your copy on Amazon now.

[Morani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamara J. Madison is a Master Practitioner of Divine Alchemy, transforming traumas specific to Womanhood into a Golden Queendom of Truth and Love and Strength; the castle and corridors and halls and rooms, the towers and battlements—each individual poems. Scars become Riches and Wisdoms.

Threed wears her femininity like a gentle waterfall shawl—sunlight shimmering, refracting, through the torrents and rivulets, making her skin “Love and Luminescence”;
while she concurrently wields those same watery currents of femininity like a “high-pressure, abrasive water-jet cutter”—blading through skin, muscle, organs, bone, marrow, Heart, Spirit, lies, evils, and apathy…
Red Love-Spatter Revealing ALL.

I, in my male ignorance, too, believed, from teachings, that a virtuous woman’s price is far above rubies.
Threed revealed to me the hubris and audacity of putting any price on the priceless,
the “FREE”.
She costs us nothing…and everything.

Threed took me to the Library of Alexandria, to the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the Akashic Records, to the Book of Life. Each line required an archaeological dig. I excavated encyclopedic tomes, temples, and Terra Cotta Truths, with no shovels or trowels. There is dirt, and rock, and blood under my fingernails.
It REQUIRED of ME.
But, My God…
The Wonders…
The Wonders……
THE WONDERS………

Threed, This Road Not Damascus should be in the permanent catalogue of universities and high schools, and be required reading in
African-American Literature,
Women’s Studies,
Feminism Studies,
And
“How To Be A Better Man” Studies.

[Teresa Gallion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Threed, This Road Not Damascus is a vivid and robust telling of the legacy of the Black woman’s power in the voice of the mythical three breasted woman. The level of craft pulls us into the litany unfolding the Black woman. Sharing the three breasted woman’s birth story Madison tells us,
…I am the one who swallowed the sun whole to birth bejeweled shadow.
This is the three breasted mythical woman who sets the stage to showcase the Black woman’s power, strength and resilience to survive. That survival would take the woman through slavery, rape, abuse, prostitution and indoctrination into Christianity. And through all of that she would persevere and survive across generations. She drops babies across the land, suckles them on battered breasts and the cycle of survival is passed to the next female child.
In the poem, Covenant, Three Breasted Woman tells us
Daughter, War Goddess,/eyes, molasses pools fishing mine,/although you came ready-made,/know that I will pull the thread/from the very last horizon/and weave elegant mail to gird you./I will melt stars,/hammer for hours your shield./
These symbolic beatitudes tell us the power of love that flows within the Divine feminine that sustains the woman. That is the true power. Read Madison’s work and be transformed.

[Lincoln Beauchamp Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Threed, This Road Not Damascus, has become a compelling exercise in dancing and swaying on the breaths of Black foremothers, whilst doing the introspective Soul Shimmy to their songs that paint the Blues history of our captivity, survival-craft, and on going liberation processes.
Genius Tamara Madison, has penned tributes, lessons, scolding, bone-dry silence, deep-hood screams, rape vengeance with offspring love that passes through generations, and resounds throughout the cosmos for all time.
Every page is a gift. Each poem is a looking glass. Thank you, Tamara.

Lincoln Beauchamp 3/September/2019

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEFINITION OF "THREED":
(ADJ.) having the quality of three or a trio of; carrying three breasts (or other appendage) where normally there are two; of or descending from beings of three breasts though the third has dissolved by way of devolution; powerfully compassionate beyond ordinary human behavior.
(Noun) a being carrying three breasts (or another appendage) where normally there are two.
(Noun) a kin or descendant of one who is threed.

A fascinating collection of poetry by Tamara J. Madison.

[Ajeemah Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vision created in this collection of poems will take your spirit into a trans of Sass, culture, independence, pride, love, beauty, history, humor, as well as sympathy. Tamara is an amazing poet with inspirational talent. Poet or not this book is an amazing fun read! I read this within a few days and wanted MORE..

[Madeleine Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous, spellbinding book — I adore its lyricism and musicality, its rhythm, its images, its ferocity, its humor, and sweeping historical references. I also love the author’s joy and sense of play (both qualities feel rare in contemporary poetry), and I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Berry's Poetry Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Threed, This Road Not Damascus is a work that requires effort. It is a text of rebellion, of protest. This poetry is not going to let readers lounge on couches and soak in pretty phrases for nothing.

Read the Full Review: https://berryherwithpoems.com/2020/04...

[RACHEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and haunting once silenced voices cry, sing and shout throughout this powerful collection of poems.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this today for The Sealey Challenge. It's got so much exciting energy!

[Aj Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading and learning at the same time is an amazing feat. Thank you for the journey

[ⵀⴰⵙⵙⴰⵏ ⵀⴰⵢⴰⵙⵜⴰⵏⵉ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece