Inheritance

by Jasmine Cooray

A Poetry Book Society Recommendation Inheritance is a profoundly moving exploration of what is passed down by our forebearers, what is left behind when we lose someone, and what we learn from being loved. Jasmine Cooray holds our most fiercely-guarded myths to the light, refracted through second-generation diaspora, family legend and life-changing loss. Her poems embrace both the quiet and the storms within. They sing of self-belief rising to the surface as drowning feels imminent, of desire and how it can cultivate hope. This is a timeless wise, wild and empowering, a lodestar for survival. "A strident, playful language dance through life's more challenging parts, always towards something transcendent." Anthony Joseph, Sonnets for Albert, Winner of the 2022 T.S. Eliot Prize "Intimate, vulnerable, poignant and provocative. Inheritance is a stunning debut brimming with tenderness, authenticity and heart." Salena Godden, Mrs Death Misses Death

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

Published November 20, 2023

Reviews

[elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was beautiful and heartbreaking. such wonderful verse.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9

Aurora Borealis, Storyteller and Against The Grain were my favourites but I folded down more than a few in here. Very enjoyable. Themes of inheritance (obviously), what’s passed on and family history very prevalent here and I love how she explored this with such empowering language, through the lens of her own experience and how these play out in our own relationships day-to-day. Fab x

[Gemma Seltzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary, just the most beautiful, tender writing and deep, heartfelt poems, full of glorious, unexpected images. I loved it.

[Natalie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and lyrical - Cooray writes tenderly and honestly about life.

[Aurora Amaryllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

obsessed. had me taking photos of every other poem just so I can refer back to them whenever I like.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book is bursting at the seams with poems full of love,loss and life. I really enjoyed the variety of poems in this book! The poem 'Visitor' really resonated me as it was describing how she still seen parts of her lost loved in everyday situations around her. "He'll visit again, like a split-second bom to he heart" made me think of the sudden onset of emotion you feel when you see, hear or even smell something that reminds you of that person gone. The 'Second Generation' poem felt like it was a description of how these poor people who are born here or have lived here most of their lives are made to feel unwelcome and unsafe. Always questioning where they will allowed to stay in their HOME. The quote "Little one, be born from a sure belly" from the poem 'Against the Grain' explores how women are pressurised to have children by a certain age or when they don't even want children. It makes us women feel like that is our only 'use'. I found this book had really powerful poems and I loved the stories that were written throughout. Very current and very needed.