Title: Poems on Social Issues
Author: Paula Tan
Publisher: PartridgeSingapore
ISBN: 978-1-5437-5935-8
Genre: Poetry
Pages: 48
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Poetry is often an avenue of candid communication, whereas the poet can write things without recourse because, after all, it falls under a genre of poetry, and can be interpreted by the reader in any way they wish. So, in essence, the vagueness and ambiguous nature of writing is a platform for readers’ self-inspection; a way for them to look into their own souls. This is how I felt reading author Paula Tan’s collection of poems titled, Poems on Social Issues.
Her collection is divided into four sections: The Condition of the Heart; Inclusion; Capitalism; and Christianity in Society. In the first section her poems about marriage was oddly interesting, as she poses a warning about marriage: “Marriage ain’t a bed of roses / First it’s pure love / Then marriage / How do you define it? / Heaven or hell?” It poses a cynical outlook to the loving bond of two souls. Her poem titled “Death” is very shocking: “Dancing with him at midnight / I found that he had a mild stroke / Like a clock it struck my heart / My dearest friend, my closest pal / Gone swiftly / At the stroke of
midnight.” That thought put a new definition to the “Stroke of midnight” of which so many people succumb to, if not at the exact moment, during the night at least.
In her other poems, she provides terse prose, with clever comic relief, such as ending her poem titled “The Computer” with “<Send>.” She has a mature and loving view of the elderly, seeing the wisdom held by these frail people who should not be left alone, but like a plant, watered (or visited) every day. Paula Tan defies racism by saying we all are people of color.
The closing poetry in her book brings exaltation into the faith of God, the kindness of Jesus, and the humbleness of being servants to the higher power. I thought she writes with respect and admiration, without become imposing upon her reading audience. The most impressive, in my opinion, was a short poem at the end of her collection titled “True Freedom and Wealth.” In it she says. “Let go of all your possession / And go and live in the land of the free / Be like a hummingbird / The smallest and the weakest / And you’ll find richness therein.” To think about the beauty of a hummingbird as being the freest form of amazing life, resonated in my mind, and encouraged me to re-read the entire book knowing the depth of Paula Tan is beautifully sensitive.
Poems on Social Issues is a book which will open readers minds to some overlooked aspects of our culture, and is a wonderful short read for individuals to enjoy together with those they love.
