Mother Self is the debut poetry pamphlet by writer and academic Madhusala (Madhu) Senaratne. It explores motherhood and raising kids in today’s beautiful and utterly complex world.
Come along on 21st February to celebrate the launch of Mother Self where the author will be reading her poems.
Praise for this collection:
“In Mother Self, Madhushala Senaratne’s poems will take you along on a mother’s journey as usher, witness, and protector, through birth stories told in frank, beautiful language, to gentle moments woven from scraps of paper wrappings, bits of scribbled notes and paper boats. She is at once voyeur, keen observer, hand holder, and poet. She is Mother, Self, Voice. She is you.”
Ellen Rowland, author of No Small Thing
Written delicately and with remarkable skill, in Mother Self, Madhushala drills down to the heart of the motherhood experience. Alongside a keen eye for observation, here she explores the difficult questions we ask of ourselves as our children grow – what is too much, what is too little? Embracing the complexities faced by parents, and the vulnerability and strength embodied during the early years of mothering, Madhushala has created a beautiful, tender tribute to family life.”
Ellen Clayton, author of Home Baked
“Madhushala’s work is full of delicate tenderness and love, yet is sharply observed and does not shy away from the difficulties, darkness and fierce power inherent in mothering. She carefully weaves in beautiful imagery and vividly describes everyday moments of mothering whilst also managing to capture wider truths about how it can feel to be a mother in this world today.
Emily Mew, poet – debut pamphlet forthcoming with Written Off Publishing in 2025
Mother Self by Madhushala Senaratne: available for pre-orders soon
With a foreword by Ellen Rowland
Cover and illustrations by Patricia Galligan
Mother Self Poetry 