Forage

Self-described as "impassioned rants against the abuses of power", Rita Wong's latest collection of poems is a vividly described, fierce commentary on our international political landscape and the injustices it breeds. All of the poems in "Forage" hold sharply modern and timely opinions that are aching to tear off the page and race down the street in a whirl of fury and Third World pride: "the time for business as usual is over. It died with the first colonial casualty". "Forage" is accompanied by marginalia, Chinese characters and photos that give depth to the political context in which most of Wong's poems are situated. Wong's ability to bridge cultures and contexts is clear; she is instructive without being pedantic, and thought-provoking while still calling forth humour and beauty. This is an important work written for an important time.