Although never before reviewed on Scribble’s Worth, Melody Wang has been one of those writers we follow around, paying very close attention to what they do due to the quality of work she puts out there.
A published and accomplished poet on her own, featured in many Poetry Magazines and other publications, including our own E-mag, Melody Wang was always on our top 3 Poets to recommend when it came to the incredible Writing Community on Twitter, and with good reason, she is simply fantastic, and after almost a year of waiting, we FINALLY have the chance to review her debut poetry collection “Night-blooming Cereus“, published by the renowned poetry house “Alien Buddha Press”.
The emotional nature of Melody Wang’s words hit us in the first verses of the first poem, “It is still brewing”, as the incredible skill of Melody of charging words with meaning and stringing each letter in a way that the message passes directly to our deep sense of understanding, is beautiful and still surprising. We get, understand and imagine the possible struggles that Melody has been through as we clearly feel her emotional state of being when she was writing each stanza and poem.
“the storm outside
wails to be let init should not want to live here
– Melody Wang
with my anxiety in its perpetual death curl”
It’s uttermost impressive how she can be so imaginative and convey so much imagery and meaning, as if she was reading from a deeper layer of existing and letting us know what she sees in words that shouldn’t make sense, but do.
Melody’s poetry is something that you have to read to believe, and take a deep breath after you read each couple of stanzas. There is so much carved in each word and we are sure that every reader will feel the amount of dedication Melody has put in each poem, and it will become evident as of why she has been featured in so many Publications. With poetry like this, who wouldn’t want to publish your work?!
“I silently brew green tea leaves
from my father’s rural hometownthey unfurl at once, stately
upright soldiers defiant to the end”
Not all poems have a meaning that is evident at once. Some poems will leave you thinking, possibly without possible solution to find, and that’s why they will stick with you, giving you a sense of wonder, making you pick your brain and ask questions that you don’t want answered. Maybe the answer is in another poem deeper in the book. And so you’ll continue reading.
There is wisdom, so much wisdom, told calmly in delicate words that don’t carress you per say, but pass around you gently, as if you were enveloped by the mist of poetry that are the rhymes of Melody. Very nicely done! Impressive indeed.
Love, despair, separation, doubt and loneliness portrait in so many metaphors that you start believing in new definitions to things like loneliness, specially in the poem “what shall become of our pact?” that is one of the powerfully emotional poems that this book provides. Amazing.
There are some lovely text arrangements that increse and dictate the pace of reading and the range of meaning of the poems we read, letting the reader decide which of the many possible meanings is the main one, and what do they mean.
Confessions of family secrets, after the death of her father, or so we understand involving parents and realizations of the younger self that was the author as time passed and things became clearer, and nothing was what it seemed. It’s intriging to read such revelations hidden in words that walk deiberately, with intention and lightness. This little aspect makes this poetry collection more intimate, as Melody reveals her innermost precious memories and the rawness of her emotions towards these happenings that marked her life deeply. It’s very brave of her.
You want to take your time reading, enjoying this book, verse by verse, word for word. Have a cup of tea with you, some smoothing music, and a seat-belt for your heart, because this is an emotional and reflexive ride of a book. Not a roller-coaster, but more like a tour of emotions and new meanings in a land filled with wonders where everything you have known is given a new layer of perception and your imagination is guided with love and softness towards new destinies.
Will you want to read this poetry collection? Of course! Grab yours now.
Favorite poems : Thin Reeds in a Still Pond // Thin Reeds in a Still Pond // Two Roads // what shall become of our pact? // 7-Year Itch // As It Was Before // As It Was Before // As if in a waterlogged dream // Ordinary iii // Two Homes // My mother teaches herself to swim // The Distance Between Us // The Sea is Still Speaking to Me // What I’d like to tell you on dark days // On a hike up the back mountain //
Pros:
- Excellent craft. Poetry with a unique style and smoothness
- Powerful rhymes filled with emotion
- Deep meanings that leave you thinking and breathless
- Very personal in style, yet, inviting
- Each poem has a atmosphere that is different from the other
- The right size, not too long, not too short
- Creative all the way
Cons:
- Although it was personal, and we understand that, there was a section that we found somewhat repetitive in the theme of the poems
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