An impassioned collection of profound poems and personal reflections.
Cockatoos in the Mangroves by Vanessa S. Lee-AhMat is an impassioned collection of profound poems and personal reflections that offers a glimpse into her culture and heritage. The book is divided into three distinct sections that throw into sharp contrast long-held traditions and alleged progress. Cutting Through The Racism forces readers to feel the heavy weight of oppression, discrimination, hatred and injustice. One poem, Coloured Ribbons, highlights the futility of so-called awareness when it comes without a real change in the hearts of humanity. White Paper lays out an indisputable argument, compelling and convincing, in under sixty words. Cultural theft and exploitation are a couple of the repeated violations reflected upon in the middle section, Becoming. Finally, Black Earth deals with repeated profiteering and mistreatment of the earth, and ultimately, the restoration of balance. Indignation and fury battle for space in the psyche of readers as crimes against our fellow humans are exposed.
A lesson on Aboriginal culture from the viewpoint of a Torres Strait Islander woman proves to be both chilling and illuminating. Besides the darkness and anger, one inspiring lesson to be taken from Cockatoos in the Mangroves centers around our inherent connection with nature. The author infuses her words with a beautiful spiritual reverence, even in the face of egregious injustices and other obstacles. No matter what the mood of each poem conveys, a frequent redirection to the sturdy and strong presence of the natural world is humbling and awe-inspiring. It is only this big-picture viewpoint that makes the gravity of this collection bearable. Rather than ambiguity and imprecision, Vanessa S. Lee-AhMat has gifted readers with her backstory on a few of the poems. This special insight grants even more perspective to an already thought-provoking work. You won’t leave with a smile, but you will leave with a wider viewpoint of the world after reading the solemn collection, Cockatoos in the Mangroves.
