Can We Talk About OBIT by Victoria Chang?
My first thought when I read “OBIT” by Victoria Chang?
Holy shit.
This is a poem with immediate power. It’s short, tense, and extremely visual. You feel, smell, and taste the poem as you read. It’s chilling. I still can’t believe how effective it is.
In summary, it’s about a mother’s death and her teeth. But beyond that, there are a lot of interpretations that can be made from the details given. What do these images convey about the mother? What do they convey about the narrator’s relationship with the mother? What do they convey about the narrator’s relationship with death?
Check out the poem at the link below, then come back here and tell me what you think. I’d REALLY like to discuss this one with someone!
Read the poem here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/151141/obit-5d8d0cffc5885
