In this ferocious and tender debut, Chen Chen investigates inherited forms of love and family - the strained relationship between a mother and son, the cost of necessary goodbyes - all from Asian American, immigrant and queer perspectives. Holding all accountable, this refreshingly candid and entertainingly provocative collection fully embraces the loss, grief, and abundant joy that come with charting one's own path in identity, life and love.
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[Dreaming of one day being as fearless as a mango / as friendly as a tomato / Merciless to chin and shirtfront / realising I hate the word 'sip' / but that's all I do / I drink / so slowly SELF-PORTRAIT AS SO MUCH POTENTIAL]***
(@BloodaxeBooks, 20 June 2019, first published 11 April 2017, 96 pages, borrowed from @natpoetrylib via @OverDriveLibs)
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I'd never heard of the poet before. I decided to read this collection because Bloodaxe Books are one of my favourite contemporary poetry publishers plus I liked the title and cover. I enjoyed this collection immensely. The poems are very lyrical, almost musical at times. I liked the tone and rhythm they created in my head as I read. Some of the descriptions scattered across the collection are excellent. I enjoyed every poem on offer here.
