36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem

Le’s evocative and introspective debut delves deep into the complexities of diasporic experiences, weaving intergenerational memory through a moving portrayal of survival, displacement, and identity. Le reflects, “My family came to this country with/ nothing more than a small knapsack// full of cut diamonds.” This metaphorical sack, filled with the precious memories and heritage of their Vietnamese homeland, is juxtaposed with footnotes that highlight the complexities of diaspora: “(The need to deflect via humour qua coping mechanism is a violence”// “The war broke differently for north v south, for those who left earlier v those who left later; the failure to differentiate is a violence).” These annotations underscore the internal and external conflicts arising from the complicated, layered nature of the immigrant experience. Elsewhere, Le remarks, “We know. When they say/ kill ratio they mean death—our death.” Reimagining Vietnamese culture and legacy, this volume stands as a testament to the power of poetry to articulate complex themes, from the weight of cultural heritage to the nuances of representation. (Mar.)