Lawless Women, by Heather Harris-Bergevin

Lawless Women, by Heather Harris-Bergevin
is available now on Amazon. 

Once I started reading Lawless Women, by Heather Harris-Bergevin, I couldn't stop. I often write reviews of books I read, but this one will be difficult. It's not that I don't like poetry, but that good poetry is more intimate than prose and I feel I am critiquing someone's soul. Also, any writer who has been asked, "What is your poem about?" knows the literal answer, "It's about a rock tumbling down a hill," may be what the poem is about, but that's not at all what the poem is about.

The title is Lawless Women, and I believe the title itself is poetry. Is the author talking about radical feminism, or is she using the word "lawless" in the sense that the Apostle Paul would use it? The contents of the book indicate both. This is a feminist work, and a Christian work. Harris-Bergevin is a Mormon.

The role of Mormonism in the poetry is strong. The Latter-day Saint interpretation of Eve's mission is described and expanded in the second poem, "First." On a personal level, this poem filled me with wonder---as if the author's Shekinah entered my heart and declared at a profound spiritual level, "I am here. Be quiet, and listen!" This remarkable poem acts as a prelude to the poetry to come.

The book goes on to create a radical restructuring of male-dominated mythology. Nothing is exempt here---Greek and Roman mythologies, Hebrew mythology, fairy tales. Vashti and Esther and some others are mentioned by name. With others Harris-Bergevin gives no names but leaves the who is this about? to the reader. I spotted at least one wicked stepmother (apples are involved), a certain young mermaid makes an appearance, and a young English girl who sounds a lot like Wendy Darling is in there too. Anyone who knows the name Gothel and the alternate name for rampion will know that tale. Each of these well-known characters tells her story, exposing the lies of men.

The poetry delves into traditional Mormon attitudes toward womanhood, while bringing Mormonism's first teachings about women--progressive and feminist--out into the open. Women are bearers of the Power, perhaps the only true power. The world as it is, a world molded by masculine ideals, where women have played along with trite displays, is a gross indignity.

In one poem a mother stands at the hospital bed of her dying child and ponders Michelangelo's Pieta. She gains strength from the archetype of a Mother cradling her dead Son, and the suffering that a mother endures, and the trite silliness of our culture's attempt to put band-aids on that suffering, no matter how well-meaning (As I read this poem, I trembled).

After overturning the patriarchal foundations---after the temple is cleansed---the poetry comes to our level, the levels of modern motherhood, human rights, the first-day-of-kindergarten...and did I catch a My Little Pony reference? The author shows us the hypocrisies of today's politics and religious practices. And the clever nod to the famous Mormon couplet, "line upon line, precept upon precept," was delightful. I loved a poem that is reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 13. The message is love, but it is so unique to the author that I wince to even make the comparison.

I don't know if I'm the target audience for this book, but I know I needed to read and understand the message. I feel like I needed a solid gut-punch, and got one. I am grateful for it. I'm recommending this book to men who are finally---after these thousands of years---ready to be quiet and listen.