In her third poetry collection, Miracle Marks, the indomitable Purvi Shah charts women’s status through pointed explorations of Hindu iconography and philosophy and powerful critiques of American racism. In these searing, revelatory poems, Shah reminds us that in some places, surviving birth as an infant girl is miraculous—as such, every girl is a miracle mark. Moreover, because education is often denied to girls, writing by women is also a miracle.

In Miracle Marks, Shah probes belonging, devotion, and social inequity, delving into what it means to be a woman, and what it means to be. Through sound energy and white space, these poems chart multiple realities, including the miracles of women’s labors, commitments, and survivals. This collection lights a way for brown girls and women who relish in spirit, intellect, politics, and justice, and will spur dialogue across audiences and communities.