Member-only story

Time Is Mother: A Poetic Journey into the Depths of Loss, Love, and Hope

Ivan Turner

·5.8k Followers· Follow

Published in Time Is A Mother Ocean Vuong

4 min read

1.4k View Claps

84 Respond

Save

Listen

Time Is a Mother

by Ocean Vuong

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1703 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	126 pages

Time Is Mother is a collection of poems by Ocean Vuong, a Vietnamese-American poet who is known for his raw and honest writing. This book, Vuong's second, explores the complexities of love, loss, and the passage of time. Many of the poems in the book are inspired by Vuong's own experiences, and they offer a deeply personal and moving account of the human experience.

Themes

The main themes in Time Is Mother include love, loss, and the passage of time. Vuong explores these themes through a variety of perspectives, including those of a child, a lover, a parent, and a survivor. The poems are often deeply personal and moving, as Vuong explores the complexities of human emotion with honesty and compassion.

Writing Style

Vuong's writing style is lyrical and evocative, and he uses language in a way that is both beautiful and painful. The poems are full of rich imagery and metaphor, and Vuong's use of language is often as vivid and sensual as the emotions he describes. The poems are also characterized by their honesty and rawness, and Vuong is not afraid to explore the darkest corners of the human experience.

Critical Reception

Time Is Mother has received critical acclaim, and it has been praised for its honesty, rawness, and beauty. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award for Poetry, and it was one of NPR's Best Books of 2019. It has also been praised by other poets, including Tracy K. Smith, who called it "a book of great beauty and sorrow" and "a necessary book for our time."

Time Is Mother is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the passage of time. Vuong's writing is honest, raw, and beautiful, and he uses language in a way that is both evocative and insightful. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in poetry or the human experience.