To celebrate forthcoming publication of Unmothered by A.J Akoto, we caught up with A.J to talk about every aspect of her debut collection, from the inspiration behind it, to her use of myth, and the complexities and challenges of writing about your own life.
In this week’s video, A.J reads ‘Creatrix’, the opening poem from Unmothered, and speaks to Cherry Potts about the significance with which we imbue motherhood, and how our mothers shape us.
Creatrix
Mothers, first creators,
try to shape us in their own image,
or what they wish they were.
Feel the dip
of finger marks, moulding
muscle and bone like clay.
Our bodies belong not to us
but to the women who
grew us
fed us
know us
enough to end us with a word.
What terror and awe.
And after all, aren’t men
afraid of God?
Pre-order your copy of Unmothered now or book to join us at an event:
