I Am Maria: A Deep Dive into Maria Shriver’s Reflections and Poems

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Maria Shriver, renowned for her connections to the Kennedy family, her career as a broadcast journalist, and her role as a former First Lady of California, is set to release her new memoir titled I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Healing, and Finding Your Way Home. The book, which will be published on April 1 by The Open Field imprint, delves into Shriver’s personal journey, particularly through the lens of poetry.

For a deeper insight, tune in to Lee Cowan’s interview with Maria Shriver on CBS Sunday Morning airing on March 30!

Selected Poems from “I Am Maria”

I Know You Loved Me

Beyond a shadow, beyond the words,
Beyond the expectations of what a nurturing mother looks like, there exists you.
I searched for figures like you in my childhood tales;
No mothers appeared in denim or played football like you did.
Yet, I always sensed your love for me,
Your desire for me to achieve what you could not,…
My heart aches for you as I realize your struggles.
You wanted only to be understood and to be held.
My understanding of your love deepens with time;
I know you loved me beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Dear Life

I feel compelled to reach out to you, Life,
To express that you have not unfolded as I envisioned.
It seems you’re indifferent, yet I feel the need to express this.
My path has strayed, revealing that my heart has no compass.
I’ve ventured forth with only my heart to direct me.
Life, are you about to unveil new horizons,
When I expose my innermost feelings?

Fragments of Me

Scattered across spaces,
Are the pieces of me…
In every corner, every forgotten drawer, I am fragmented.
Is your existence also a mosaic,
Torn between extremes of power and vulnerability?
Are you aware of your true self,
Or has your essence evaded you?
It’s time to reclaim your pieces,
For only you hold the key to wholeness.

This excerpt is taken from I Am Maria, written by Maria Shriver and published by The Open Field, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights are reserved as of 2025.

Purchase Information

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