Every now and then I come across a work that speaks to me on a more personal level as a mother and woman of hispanic ancestry. At the same time, I find myself reviewing a piece of art for which I am under-qualified to analyze. Mother/land by Ananda Lima is that piece of art. In this poetry collection, the author details her experiences as an immigrant from Brazil assimilating to life in her new land and raising an American child. In many different ways she explores how to call a place home while maintaining such a strong piece of her identity, and examining the implications of this environment for her son.

Lima eloquently combines her native language of Portuguese with English to guide the reader through the emotions and helps them connect with her experiences in each piece. Her talent to immerse the reader with sights and sounds of her environment render the material inviting to those who willingly take those giant leaps with her. Those who have already taken giant leaps themselves will recognize the angst and beauty of assimilating to American culture, or even how motherhood complicates an already challenging venture. Also, I loved her experimentation with layout and presentation to further guide the reader’s experience.

Mother/land is full of inspiring and heartbreaking poems. Below are some that stood out to me or that I enjoyed the most: 

• Inflight Entertainment while the Doomsday Seed Bank is Breached
• ARROYO
• Line
• Transa
• Vigil
• Madrugada at grandma’s
• PB&J
• Ronald Reagan
• Fall
• say something
• Vacation Bed
• Photograph of water as a mass noun
• Ode to Wet Concrete
• Architecture tour
• Portrait (II)
• spring
• Mother Tongue
• Toast to America
• Portrait (III)
• Bird
• When they come for us on the 7 train
• Bee

I also appreciated Lima’s notes at the end of the collection, detailing her inspirations and influences for specific poems. 

I recommend Mother/land to those looking for their next quick read – but especially to immigrants and first-generation readers. Those who had the unique experiences of assimilating to American culture in various contexts, or their descendants, will find something that speaks to them. That’s not to say U.S.-born citizens won’t enjoy this book – I did, although I don’t know if I would have gotten as much out of it had I not had children of my own. 

Ananda Lima joined me for a Cantina Conversation to talk about her experiences as an immigrant raising an American son and how these agents of change have played out in numerous aspects of her life and inspired her creativity. Keep an ear out for an upcoming episode of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and pre-order Mother/land, available October 15.