A compelling blend of personal narrative, universal themes and spiritual exploration to help readers to reflect, connect and find solace in the shared human experience. A poetic memoir that offers comfort, community and belonging through stories of love, loss, pain and rebirth. ‘I want to share the stories I kept silent, in the hope that I and those who read my book will feel free from me doing so.’ ‘Songs’ are the stories, poems and prayers of the generations of women who came before. They include the lived experiences of those both older and younger than you, that help you grow & learn to be more yourself, celebrate your individuality and above all, realize that you are not alone on your journey. The daughter of Pakistani-Muslim immigrants who moved to South Texas to give their daughter a better life, Sara Surani explores universal feelings through poetry, lyrical prose, memoir-style writing and vignettes inspired by her work with women and girls across the globe. Each chapter uses colour to evoke a feeling- Violet- the gut punch of loss Indigo- a slow, lonely grief Blue- anxiety, fear and uncertainty Green- when spring returns to you Yellow- the first ray of sun on snow, a thawing Orange- a warm cup of tea, hope Red- fire, rebirth, an inner spark Delving into these emotions together conjures a deep sense of belonging. So often we are told that the core of spiritual development is ‘inner work’, but this book is about remembering everything that we share – something that is needed now, more than ever.
