Deeper than blood

Yavanna M. Brownlee
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:46:45 PDT

The poems in 'Deeper than Blood' present a mosaic of geographic location, intensely personal events, friends, family, and observations tied together by a feminine persona who is not afraid to explore her life and the lives of those around her. Section I reaches into the depths of the persona's sexuality and fears of dying, revealing a shadowed and troubled side of the persona. Section II mixes views of the persona from an outside and an inside perspective, looking at how others view her as she stands naked before them and how she observes herself through her past and her memories of people and places. Section III searches through childhood memories, family, and friends for an answer to what comes next in life and after life is over. Throughout the intricate life story presented by these poems, a peaceful mood prevails. By setting the mood as one of calm, the speaker presents the rollercoaster ride of life. Instead of seeming like she is on a wild ride, the persona flows like a boat over the swells of an ocean on a calm day, allowing the reader to take in all the eccentricities of life with the calm that pervades the poetry.