Asian Poetry

Carved close to the original Greek, acclaimed classicist Caroline Alexander's new translation is swift and lean, with the driving cadence of its source - a translation epic in scale yet devastating in its precision and power.

From two-time Newbery Medalist and living legend Lois Lowry comes a moving account of the lives lost in two of WWII's most infamous events: Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.

“The Wolf Epoch” introduces English-speaking readers to the poetic voice of Nurlan Orazalin, a celebrated Kazakh poet, playwright, and laureate of the State Prize of Kazakhstan. Spanning themes of national identity, spiritual legacy, and the human condition, this bilingual anthology brings together selections from his many poetry collections — including Time of Music, Restless Heart, and Farewell to the Century. With lyrical richness, philosophical depth, and a profound connection to Kazakhstan’s cultural and natural heritage, The Wolf Epoch speaks to a global audience seeking ...

Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know much else. So one night, they ask her to tell them her story. As they get ready for bed, their mama spins two tales: that of her youth as a strong-willed middle child and immigrant; and that of the young life of Mayari, the mythical daughter of a god. Both are tales of sisterhood and motherhood, and of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance.

From acclaimed poet Franny Choi comes a poetry collection for the ends of worlds—past, present, and future. Choi’s third book features poems about historical and impending apocalypses, alongside musings on our responsibilities to each other and visions for our collective survival.

Twelve-year-old Isabel is the new kid in her San Francisco middle school. It’s the first time in many years that she’ll be living with her mother again. Mama's job in the US allowed Isabel and her grandparents to live more comfortably in the Philippines, but now Isabel doesn't really know her own mother anymore. Making new friends in a new city, a new country, is hard, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school means Isabel will begin to find her way, and maybe she too, will begin to bloom.

Anna can’t wait to move to the beautiful country—the Chinese name for America. Although she’s only ever known life in Taiwan, she can’t help but brag about the move to her family and friends. But the beautiful country isn’t anything like Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped apartment, she’s bullied at school, and she struggles to understand a new language.

Every single step you take forward, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is significant. No matter how small your daily progress may be, it all adds up in the end. Keep going, going, and going until you're proud. Standing and waiting for the storm to end won't end it unless you decide to go through it and face it. This book is a collection of prose with a soft poetic touch. It will help you understand what it means to keep moving forward in life, and it will remind you of the strength that lies within the broken pieces of yourself. It will take you on a journey to discover self-love. ...

Warrior-prince Rama is about to be crowned Young King, when he hears the devastating news that his father, king of Ayodhya, has been tricked into banishing him to the forest. His devoted wife, Sita, insists on accompanying him in exile, but the evil 10-headed Lord Ravana has fallen deeply in love with the beautiful princess and steals her away. Aided by Hanuman, mighty captain of the monkeys, Rama sets out across the world to find her and destroy Ravana in a deadly battle.

Vidyan Ravinthiran was born in the north of England to Sri Lankan Tamils, and moved to the United States five years ago. Considering identity in both its political and psychological senses, he leaps adventurously between memoir and criticism, understanding his life through poetry, and vice versa.

In his first international release since the award-winning, best-selling The Boat, Nam Le delivers a shot across the bow with a book-length poem that honors every convention of diasporic literature—in a virtuosic array of forms and registers—before shattering the form itself.

"Where are you from . . . ? No—where are you from from?" It's a question every Asian American gets asked as part of an incessant chorus saying you'll never belong here, you're a perpetual foreigner, you'll always be seen as an alien, an object, or a threat. Monica Youn's From From brilliantly evokes the conflicted consciousness of deracination. If you have no core of "authenticity," no experience of your so-called homeland, how do you piece together an Asian American identity out of Westerners' ideas about Asians? Your sense of yourself is part stereotype, part aspiration, part guilt.

Samira thinks of her life as before and after: before the burning and violence in Burma (now Myanmar), when she and her best friend would play in the fields, and after, when her family was forced to flee. There's before the uncertain journey to Bangladesh by river, and after, when the river swallowed her nana and nani whole. And now, months after rebuilding a life in Bangladesh with her mama, baba, and brother, Khaled, there's before Samira saw the surfer girls, and after, when she decides she'll become one.

Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He's also colorblind, left-handed, and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He's super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother. All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins!

Vidyan Ravinthiran was born in the north of England to Sri Lankan Tamils, and moved to the United States five years ago. Considering identity in both its political and psychological senses, he leaps adventurously between memoir and criticism, understanding his life through poetry, and vice versa. This electric, compelling hybrid memoir discovers a new way of writing about the self and also literature.

Anna’s family have settled into life in California—their small restaurant is even turning a profit. Then her parents make a shattering discovery: their visas have expired. Anna’s world is quickly overwhelmed by unfamiliar words like “undocumented.” She longs to share the towering secret that looms over every aspect of her life with a friend, but her parents strictly forbid her from telling anyone.

Haiku, and those poems inspired by them, attempt to realize the essence of a moment simply, directly, and creatively. Haiku represent a beautiful combination of presence and transcendence, of wonder and realization, through the crystallization of an instant in time. With two hundred sixty haiku and haiku-inspired poems, Swaying Branches, Rustling Leaves offers insightful observations of everyday and uncommon moments presented with humor, joy, and clarity. Ranging from the traditional to flexible verse, this book explores the simple marvel and delight present in the world in and around us if...

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated a number of homes and communities, scattering families as they sought refuge. Bring Me Back Home, New Orleans, is a Katrina survivor’s story of loss told through poetry, a reflection on home, and an ode to New Orleans.

The Wondrous Woo tells the story of Miramar Woo who is the quintessential Chinese girl: nice, quiet, and reserved. The eldest of the three Woo children, Miramar is ever the obedient sister and daughter...on the outside. On the inside, she’s a kick-ass kung fu heroine with rock star flash, sassy attitude, and an insatiable appetite for adventure. Just as Miramar is about to venture forth on the real adventure of leaving home for university, her beloved father is killed in an accident. Miramar watches helplessly as her family unravels in the aftermath of her father’s death.

Haiku capture the essence of moments simply, directly, and creatively. These fluid poems represent a wondrous combination of presence and transcendence, of beauty and realization, through snapshots of instants in time. Featuring over one hundred haiku, Dappled Sunlight on Spring Leaves offers insightful observations of everyday and uncommon moments presented with humor, joy, and clarity. Dappled Sunlight on Spring Leaves is a book for those seeking the heart of each instant, enlivening the mind and expanding perception.