some_random_person_hi's review
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.0
Words & Things: 1.0 star
Spaces & Places: 1.0 star
Connections: 1.0 star
Crossings: 4.0 stars
Origins: 3.0 stars
The poems in the first three parts mostly 1) lacked rhythm and/or 2) didn't make any sense. The best poems in those sections were 3 stars on their own at best. In general, they just made me sleepy. 'Words & Things' was slightly better than the rest.
The section 'Crossings' succeeded in making this book not convince me that I don't enjoy poems by default. Specifically, 'Only Hiroshima' & 'Expatriate Dream' are some of the best poems I have ever read. 'The Emigrée', 'Learning to love America', 'Chinese Workers on the Evening Train', 'Made of Gold', 'He Comes for the Jewish Family, 1942', 'Do You Speak Persian?' & 'Lost Tongue' are also particularly commendable.
'Origins' was kinda mid with a couple better than okay ones thrown into the mix.
Spaces & Places: 1.0 star
Connections: 1.0 star
Crossings: 4.0 stars
Origins: 3.0 stars
The poems in the first three parts mostly 1) lacked rhythm and/or 2) didn't make any sense. The best poems in those sections were 3 stars on their own at best. In general, they just made me sleepy. 'Words & Things' was slightly better than the rest.
The section 'Crossings' succeeded in making this book not convince me that I don't enjoy poems by default. Specifically, 'Only Hiroshima' & 'Expatriate Dream' are some of the best poems I have ever read. 'The Emigrée', 'Learning to love America', 'Chinese Workers on the Evening Train', 'Made of Gold', 'He Comes for the Jewish Family, 1942', 'Do You Speak Persian?' & 'Lost Tongue' are also particularly commendable.
'Origins' was kinda mid with a couple better than okay ones thrown into the mix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Antisemitism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and War
aqilahreads's review
3.0
contains mostly poetry by singaporean poets but it also includes selected works/translated poetry from southeast asia and other countries!
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. there are 5 sections in this book - connection is probably my favourite. i find most of them are pretty decent; some are good and some are not that bad either. however, i just wished theres more into it - i have came across some old poems so reading them kinda felt repetitive to me & would be great if newer works are introduced in here. nevertheless, still enjoyed it as a whole and really appreciate how the book showcases various poets which some i have never heard of!! excited to check out more of their works
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. there are 5 sections in this book - connection is probably my favourite. i find most of them are pretty decent; some are good and some are not that bad either. however, i just wished theres more into it - i have came across some old poems so reading them kinda felt repetitive to me & would be great if newer works are introduced in here. nevertheless, still enjoyed it as a whole and really appreciate how the book showcases various poets which some i have never heard of!! excited to check out more of their works
yapxinyi's review
3.0
A cute collection; the blurb was well-written and made me buy it lol. I was hoping for more on the last section of "origins". Since the blurb also talked about real-world issues I was hoping on more poetry on political/social causes/environmentalism too. I thought the collection might include "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" since the introduction talked about W. H. Auden's "poetry makes nothing happen" (from the same poem), which I had thought would go nicely in section 4: crossings.
Some favourites included (in no particular order):
- Some Night by Luis Cabalquinto
- Seventh Month by Yeo Shu Hoong
- Dividend of the Social Opt Out by Jennifer Moxley
- I Lost My Identity Card by Yehuda Amichai
- Postcard from Kashmir by Agha Shahid Ali
- Storm Diary by Seán Lysaght
Overall, I think the anthology was diverse but could have been more thorough - the blurb felt a bit like name-dropping? Might just be me haha.
Some favourites included (in no particular order):
- Some Night by Luis Cabalquinto
- Seventh Month by Yeo Shu Hoong
- Dividend of the Social Opt Out by Jennifer Moxley
- I Lost My Identity Card by Yehuda Amichai
- Postcard from Kashmir by Agha Shahid Ali
- Storm Diary by Seán Lysaght
Overall, I think the anthology was diverse but could have been more thorough - the blurb felt a bit like name-dropping? Might just be me haha.
ohsoreads's review
5.0
A wonderful collection of poems by local authors & international writers; some familiar ones include Wong May, Mohamed Latiff Mohamed, Margaret Atwood, Simon Armitage, Ocean Vuong and so much more! The collection explores the themes of home, immigration, parental love, and belonging. I borrowed a copy from my local library and enjoyed the whole reading journey greatly. I might just consider purchasing a copy myself to highlight and note my favourite parts. Below are some or the poetry works that I particularly loved as well as an excerpt from one of them:
Excerpt from “Why is your poetry so normal?” by Anne Lee Tzu Peng
Because this is meant to be human;
A familiar voice, plain, intelligible,
And close to home.
Somewhere in you, I know,
You have the same voice, too,
That recognises what I say to you.
More works that I enjoyed:
- Words by Anne Sexton
- Being Beautiful by Jollin Tan
- Reader by Noelle Q. de Jesus
- Portrait of A Sentenced Library by Alfian Sa’at (ref to little prince)
- Re: New Ways To Be Lonely by Nurul Amillin Hussain
- Schoolyard Lesson by Janice Heng
- To All My Friends by Hauntie
- Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
Excerpt from “Why is your poetry so normal?” by Anne Lee Tzu Peng
Because this is meant to be human;
A familiar voice, plain, intelligible,
And close to home.
Somewhere in you, I know,
You have the same voice, too,
That recognises what I say to you.
More works that I enjoyed:
- Words by Anne Sexton
- Being Beautiful by Jollin Tan
- Reader by Noelle Q. de Jesus
- Portrait of A Sentenced Library by Alfian Sa’at (ref to little prince)
- Re: New Ways To Be Lonely by Nurul Amillin Hussain
- Schoolyard Lesson by Janice Heng
- To All My Friends by Hauntie
- Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
More...