Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth

by Warsan Shire

Anything that leaves her mouth sounds like sex. Our mother has banned her from saying God’s name.

I’ve always loved horror. I’m interested in the connection between the fear of the supernatural and and the fear of the ‘promiscuous’ woman. The response to these women seemed to evoke a kind of fear that reminded me of religious horror. Unholiness, the spirit jumping from host to host. Do you like horror? I really enjoyed ‘Titane’ (2021) The protagonist in this film is a good example of the kind woman, in the world of this poem - who would be ‘banned from saying God’s name’.