The Festival of Wild Orchid
by Ann-Margaret Lim

Alert to all the contradictions of contemporary Jamaica, these lyric and delicate poems find fresh things to say about the country’s landscapes and seascapes. Written in both standard Caribbean English and Jamaican patois with wit, an imaginative eye, and warmth, this collection presents a feisty and questioning poetic persona: one who responds frankly to the endemic violence, misogyny, and poverty of a divided society. Through pungent phrases and arresting images, this compilation not only reflects upon the poet’s Chinese and African heritages, but also celebrates the novelty of the world as discovered by her child.