A Portrait of the Self as Nation: New and Selected Poems

by Marilyn Chin

A rich, illuminating compilation of selected and new poems from Marilyn Chin, "a poet of contradictions, poignant sentiment, beat-your-ass toughness, and unexpected humor" ( Los Angeles Review of Books ). Spanning thirty years of dazzling work―from luminous early love lyrics to often-anthologized Asian American identity anthems, from political and subversive hybrid forms to feminist manifestos― A Portrait of the Self as Nation is a selection from one of America’s most original and vital voices. Marilyn Chin’s passionate, polyphonic poetry travels freely from the personal to the mythic, from the political to the spiritual. Deeply engaged with the complexities of cultural assimilation, feminism, and the Asian American experience, she spins precise, beautiful metaphors as she illuminates hard-hitting truths. A Portrait of the Self as Nation celebrates Chin’s innovative activist poetry: her fearless and often confrontational early collections, Dwarf Bamboo and The Phoenix Gone, the Terrace Empty ; the rebellious, vivid language of Rhapsody in Plain Yellow ; and the erotic elegies of Hard Love Province . Also included are excerpts from Chin’s daring novel, Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen , and a vibrant chapter of new poems and translations. In poems that are direct and passionately charged, Marilyn Chin raises her voice against systems of oppression even as her language shines with devastating power and beauty. Image after image, line by line, Chin’s masterfully reinvented quatrains, sonnets, allegories, and elegies are unforgettable.

Genres: Poetry, Asian American, Adult

190 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2018

About the author

Marilyn Chin is an award-winning poet and the author of Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen, Rhapsody in Plain Yellow, The Phoenix Gone, the Terrace Empty and Dwarf Bamboo. Her writing has appeared in The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry.

She was born in Hong Kong and raised in Portland, Oregon. Her books have become Asian American classics and are taught in classrooms internationally. Marilyn Chin has read her poetry at the Library of Congress. She was interviewed by Bill Moyers’ and featured in his PBS series The Language of Life and in PBS Poetry Everywhere.

Reviews

[Meg Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of poems from an incredible poet. I keep turning to this gem of a book for inspiration.

[Jan Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had already read and loved most of this collection because I have bought each of her books over the years. The translations and newer original work continues my enormous admiration for this writer. She brings a tough, assertive voice to her art that both contrasts with and serve poetry—like the bitterness of the best chocolate, like lemon curd—the contrast in flavors is what makes the reader gasp.

I kind of lied about my reading history because how I read was not front to back, but here and then there and back to here. I slowed down at the end to make it last.

[Eisenberk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, I am not a big fan of poetry, but this collection intrigues me with its historical breadth and emotional depth. It is more than a retrospective of Marilyn Chin's poetic repertoire but an independent, feminist, bilingual, transnationalist statement.

[Mairwen Minson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is fantastic. I love the mix of satirical poems and political/social poems. It was especially wonderful to read after hearing Marilyn Chin read/perform some of the poems. Some of the poems are very gripping and some are laugh out loud.

[Stephanie Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Day 9 of #TheSealeyChallenge — I am obsessed with Marilyn Chin’s voice, her wry wit & brazenness & pride & honesty & how she turns poetry into a weapon. Definitely will be thinking about this for a while, definitely going to be reading more of her work (and potentially going to write about these poems for my senior thesis?)

[Pamela J · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important compilation of poems by one of our most prolific and playful contemporary poets. Followers of Chin’s poetry will recognize that old favorites and new works new ones too.
I love it as a teaching text too.

[Laurie Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marilyn Chin's poetry offers unique and imaginative moments.

[ananya · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s objectively a solid four i’m just not a poetry person

[Rita Karshat · Rating 5 out of 5]

PEONY APOCALYPSE takes my breath away

[Francescajemm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially loved the imagined letters written to her by her family members. Brilliant!

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I ordered this, I had not realized this was a collection of republished works with brand new poems. Nonetheless, Marilyn Chin’s voice shines throughout this anthology, reminding me why she ranks amongst my favorite living poets. Because the inclusions from last volumes, this collection is especially useful for those who desire to encounter Chin’s work for the first time.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry

[satvi 💗 · Rating 1 out of 5]

so so bad and horrible. over dramatic