handing down of ideas and customs from one generation to the other. Therefore, these two poems, with their outward differences, both convey the same theme. My grandmother taught me things, as did Giovanni's grandmother, as did Hogan's. All older generations strive to pass on their traditions and wisdom onto people who can still use them. In ancient mythology, the crone, or old woman, was a figure wise in lore, remedies and magic. So are the two women in these poems. Even the titles themselves are connected; heritage and legacy are synonyms of each other. And while these poems aren't mirror reflections of one other, they are different versions of the same narrative. Everyone has their own story of their grandmother to tell, but it will never be the same as the next person's. Two stories that seem so radically different from each other will be alternate versions of one description, just like the two works by Nikki Giovanni and Linda Hogan that pay homage to their grandmothers wisdom and knowledge. ...
