Efectos Maternos is a poetry collection born from a deeply personal journey of loss, memory, and inheritance. In 2016, the author's mother, Gladys, passed away after a brief but devastating battle with cancer, spending 33 days in intensive care connected to a respirator from which she never recovered. During this time, reflections on her mother’s life—her childhood, youth, womanhood, and role as a mother—began to take shape. The lingering question emerged: how much of her remains within me, and how much will reach my son, Bruno?
As the years passed, this question deepened, extending beyond personal grief into a broader reflection on maternal ancestry. With the birth of a second son, Matías, in 2021, the concept of maternal effects became even more poignant. Biology dedicates an entire field to studying how a mother’s traits influence her child’s characteristics—height, eye color, behavior, even genetic expression—shaping identity in ways both visible and unseen.
This poetry collection navigates these intricate connections, uncovering the unseen threads that weave generations together. It embraces the mystery of inheritance, where memory, biology, and emotion merge within the vast, unyielding vessel of motherhood—one that holds both light and darkness, presence and absence, loss and creation.
You can read the whole collection in the author's mother tongue below:
The project is part of the subtheme Healing Narratives - Poetry, Mental Health and Collective Trauma.
Author
Dora Gómez Paiva
Dora Gómez is a poet, writer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary creator from Paraguay, whose work bridges literature, cinema, and activism. As the author of Efectos Maternos, a poetry collection exploring the interconnectedness of humans and nature, Dora is passionate about using art to foster empathy and address social issues.
In the audiovisual realm, she has directed and produced short films such as Efectos Maternos and No puedo tocar el cielo con las manos. Her debut feature, Blanca, delves into the impact of migration on families and has been selected for prestigious festivals, including Málaga and Ventana Sur. Dora has also participated in renowned workshops such as Compañero del Viento and El Dinosaurio, led by Paz Encina, where she honed her commitment to innovative cinematic narratives.
The poetry Dora is submitting to The Poetry Expo 2025 is part of an evolving body of work that reflects her journey as both a writer and a mother. Efectos Maternos invite contemplation on themes such as connection, loss, and resilience. While the poems stand alone, they are part of a larger exploration of how personal histories intersect with collective narratives.
As the founder of Sembradora Guion & Cine, and a member of KUATIA (Paraguay’s association of screenwriters) and the Colectivo de Audiovisualistas JOPOI, Dora integrates her expertise in creative writing and production to amplify underrepresented voices. Her diverse projects range from general production for Mario Testino’s A Beautiful World expedition to theatrical and multimedia works like El Secuestro and Toma Virtual.
In addition to her artistic achievements, Dora is an advocate for well-being and social change. She has taught yoga, organized wellness events, and contributed to social initiatives supporting vulnerable communities in Paraguay.
