CODA She Said: Womanhood in Utah 2025 is a powerful anthology that brings together stories and visual work documenting the lived experiences of women across the state. Utah is consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation for women’s equality, and this collection explores what it means to live within those cultural, historical, economic, and political realities.
I contributed both writing and visual art to this publication and had the opportunity to read my work on stage during the Utah Arts Festival book launch. Being able to share these pieces aloud, in community, was an important part of how this project came to life.
About the Publication
CODA She Said centers women’s voices through poetry, prose, and visual representation. The anthology does not attempt to soften or simplify its subject matter. Instead, it creates space for honesty, complexity, and shared recognition.
Each contribution reflects a different facet of womanhood in Utah, forming a collective record of resilience, frustration, care, and strength. Together, the pieces highlight how personal experiences are shaped by broader systems and how art can serve as documentation as well as resistance.
Not Young, Wild, or Free
My free verse poem “Not Young, Wild, or Free” appears in the anthology as a raw reflection on womanhood and motherhood in the absence of support. The poem speaks quietly and directly, allowing emotion to surface without explanation.
Wreckage
My second poem, “Wreckage,” approaches harm and survival through metaphor. The piece considers abusive relationships and the experience of navigating systems that often fail to protect women. Rather than retelling events outright, the poem relies on imagery to hold what cannot be easily spoken.
Mother Earth
In addition to my writing, I contributed a digital painting titled “Mother Earth,” which was published in the anthology. The piece depicts a pregnant woman holding the universe within her womb, drawing on themes of creation, labor, and the invisible weight women carry. It reflects my interest in using visual storytelling to deepen and expand written work.
Reading at the Utah Arts Festival
The book launch at the Utah Arts Festival brought the anthology into a shared public space. Reading my work on stage, surrounded by art, movement, and community, emphasized the role of storytelling as both personal expression and collective experience.
Live readings always add urgency and presence to my work. They ask me to stand inside the story and trust it to meet my audience where they are.
Why This Project Matters
CODA She Said: Womanhood in Utah represents the kind of work I value most. Work that is honest, community driven, and intentionally crafted across multiple disciplines.
This project allowed me to combine my strengths in writing, visual art, and storytelling strategy while contributing to a publication that documents lived experience with care and clarity. It reflects how I approach creative work as both expression and communication.
Interested in exploring the anthology? Find a free copy of the book here.
xoxo,
Michaela Rae
