How Long to Read Mama's Promises

How Long Does it Take to Read Mama's Promises?

It takes the average reader 1 hour and 10 minutes to read Mama's Promises by Marilyn Nelson

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

“Waniek is a poet of intelligence, passion, and gentleness with a fine sense of the comic and unfailing judgment about what constitutes a poetic line. She creates a rich mixture of impressions about the speaker of these poems as a woman who is at the same time in her mid-twenties and her mid-fifties, who is black and white and red, who is both trapped by and freed by motherhood.” —Miller Williams Marilyn Nelson Waniek writes with great wisdom and compassion. Grounded but never earthbound, her poems speak honestly and eloquently about giving birth, nurturing life, and facing death; they inhabit the present, fully aware of their responsibilities to the past and the future. Waniek leaves us with the affecting strength and assurance of lasting things, as in the poem “Mama’s Promise.” But the dangerous highway curves through blue evenings when I hold his yielding hand and snip his minuscule nails with my vicious-looking scissors. I carry him around like an egg in a spoon, and I remember a porcelain fawn, a best friend’s trust, my broken faith in myself. It’s not my grace that keeps me erect as the sidewalk clatters downhill under my rollerskate wheels. Then I think of Mama, her bountiful breasts. When I was a child, I really swear, Mama’s kisses could heal. I remember her promise, and whisper it over my sweet son’s sleep: When you float to the bottom, child, like a mote down a sunbeam, you’ll see me from a trillion miles away: my eyes looking upon you, my arms outstretched for you like night. From “Mama’s Promise” published in Mama’s Promises by Marilyn Nelson. Copyright © 1985 by Marilyn Nelson Waniek. All rights reserved.

How long is Mama's Promises?

Mama's Promises by Marilyn Nelson is 68 pages long, and a total of 17,544 words.

This makes it 23% the length of the average book. It also has 21% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Mama's Promises Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to read Mama's Promises aloud.

What Reading Level is Mama's Promises?

Mama's Promises is suitable for students ages 8 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Mama's Promises?

Mama's Promises by Marilyn Nelson is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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