Cover of Judy Grahn’s The Common Woman

Judy Grahn’s Common Woman is a seven poem collection published in 1978 within her larger piece The Work of a Common Woman. These poems zoom in on different female characters and serve as a tribute to their lives. Grahn’s raw and honest portrayal of these women provides a balanced picture of them as true human beings, confronting the stereotypes that exist. Below, I take a closer look at a few of these poems, including “III. Nadine, resting on her neighbor’s stoop” and “VII. Vera, from my childhood”.

Image of Judy Grahn