Former Mennonite Maria Giesbrecht on How Poetry Helped Her Escape a High-Control Community
By
Maria Giesbrecht
Master baker tier. Every paragraph earns its place on the tray.
Summary
In an exclusive essay for PEOPLE, former Mennonite Maria Giesbrecht shares how poetry became her lifeline for escaping a high-control religious community. She describes growing up in a strict Mennonite household where self-expression was limited, and how discovering poets like Sylvia Plath, Mary Oliver, and Adrienne Rich showed her a path to freedom through words. Her debut poetry collection, 'A Little Feral,' chronicles this journey of breaking away and finding her own voice.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe first time I wrote a poem, I loved it so much I locked it up.
For many years, this little diary was the only place I felt safe enough to speak my truth.
Poets like Sylvia Plath, Mary Oliver and Adrienne Rich showed me there was a way out with words.
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