One of the purest bonds in this life is the relationship between a mother and a daughter. They clash and reconcile at the drop of a hat. Sometimes each other’s harshest critics, while at other times the staunchest of allies, the mother-daughter bond is a complicated one. In LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s Cancer Courts My Mother, we get to resonate with a daughter’s pain who is faced with the death of her cancer-stricken mother.

In this collection of twenty-five heartfelt poems, LoSchiavo bares her soul. From the devastation of the first diagnosis and the joy of remission to the utter helplessness at the final return of Cancer, each and every emotion is woven into the poems of this collection. LoSchiavo masterfully employs metaphors and allegories to depict the struggles of a daughter in charge of the care of her ailing mother. The helplessness of a daughter who does everything in her power to care for her mom, yet has to watch her mother fade away, holding the hand of Cancer is beautifully captured. Cancer itself is personified as her mother’s untiring suitor. Even after she goes into remission, Cancer returns and woos her mother to join the world of the dead. LoSchiavo compares the care of an ailing mother with the nursing of plants. She does not forget to capture the small pleasures her mother enjoyed when on medication. Her love for movies made me relate with her. At the same time, LoSchiavo remembers the difficult phase of her relationship with her mother. Mother Magnified and Flash unfilteredly showcases those turbulent times. Her mother completely changes after Cancer returns to claim her life one final time. However, those difficult memories do not just fade away. Caring for her mother on her deathbed takes its toll on the narrator. Even though she makes her return from death time and again, she finally has to witness her surrender to Cancer. LoSchiavo also brings to us the final moments of death and its aftermath.

All the poems in Cancer Courts My Mother leave a lasting impact. For me, the piece that forever carved a place in my heart is The Closet As She Left It. This poem sheds light on the emptiness left behind by a departed loved one. I have to say that I found the poem, CANCER, to be the most unique in this anthology. The word itself is turned into an acronym that captures the Casanova-like character of cancer.

LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s lyrical writing style has a raw honesty to it. It resonates deeply with the reader. She has the power to completely immerse the reader in her writing. I will definitely read more of her books.

Each and every poem in LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s Cancer Courts My Mother is a piece of art. Though presented as fiction, this collection makes us feel real grief. Anyone who is caring for a terminally ill loved one or has lost a dear one should definitely give Cancer Courts My Mother by LindaAnn LoSchiavo a read. Poetry is an outlet for our emotions, and Cancer Courts My Mother is brimming with raw emotions. This collection is a must-read for all poetry lovers.

Genre: Poetry, Grief, Fictionalized Memoir

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