Mosquito and Ant: Poems

This was my introduction to the poetry of Kimiko Hahn, and I predict a long friendship between her writing and myself. These are strong poems about modern woman, set against a background of the Ancient Japanese and Chinese women written in the form of an old pillow book.The title of this small book with huge poems, Mosquito & Ant, refers to the style nu shu (ancient and secret Chinese women's writing) is written—like the loops of a buzzing mosquito and the tracks of an ant.These poems are passionate, cover a variety of topics, and beg to be read several times for both their beauty and message. The Notes at the end of the book are also worth reading.Excellent book. Highly recommend it.

Sly wit and biting observations on contemporary womanhood couched in the context of Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book and ancient Chinese and Japanese poets. I loved these poems, the adventurous avenues, the casual everyday activities juxtaposed with the startling image and wrenching confessions.

I loved this book by Kimiko Hahn--the range, the inventivenss, the sense of play. I appreciate how her writing is enlivened by contemporary criticism and cultural studies while still being grounded in history and literature and apt observations of the world and its inhabitants.

Those familiar with Kimiko Hahn's previous collection, The Unbearable Heart, will find the same deeply personal quality but slightly brighter; no longer only on the subject of grief, Hahn shares other longings and speculations. These works are beautiful language without any of the unnecessary; simple and meaningful images, and direct ponderings.