THE GOOD LIFE: Lacunae, an Elegy for My Mother, Part I — by LISA WILDE
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
Excerpt from Philip Larkin’s poem
“This Be the Verse”
My mother died at 95 on March 23, 2011. Most of the drawings in Lacunae: Elegy for My Mother spilled out—unbidden, uncontrolled, raw—after her passing, and were clearly connected to my grieving. I call them Lacunae (which means “blank, a missing portion”) because it was her death that released this river from my unconscious.
Lacunae: Elegy For My Mother ties these images of unfiltered emotion into a life’s narrative. “The Good Life” is the first installment of my story, which will be serialized over five parts, weekly, on MUTHA Magazine. Follow MUTHA for the next chapter.
About the Author
Lisa Wilde is an artist, writer and teacher. Her graphic book—Yo, Miss: A Graphic Look at High School (Microcosm Publishing, 2015) was called a “notable comic” by Bill Kartalopoulos in Best American Comics. Lisa’s second graphic book, Lacunae, was serialized at Muthamagazine.com in 2016. Her zine, Yo, Miss #6: Changes—Vengeance, Trump and the Eumenides was short-listed for Broken Pencil’s 2018 zine awards. She is a fellow of the Academy for Teachers.
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I was moved by the messages with the simple drawings. Some real healing and understanding is evident. I look forward to experiencing more of your work, Lisa.
My God! Lisa I expected…I didn’t expect…your tone is the perfect match for the art – the fabulous art – innocent and hurt and brave and beautifully awkward. Like us ! Thank yoy. When can I get the hardcopy?
DFaye