Stem - (Princeton Contemporary Poets) by Stella Wong

Book Synopsis

A wide-ranging collection from a rising poet that showcases her sharp, contemporary voice

In Stem, Stella Wong intersperses lyric poems on a variety of subjects with dramatic monologues that imagine the perspectives of specific female composers, musicians, and visual artists, including Johanna Beyer, Mira Calix, Clara Rockmore, Maryanne Amacher, and Delia Derbyshire. In such lines as "let me tell you how I make myself appear / more likeable," "as I grow older I like looking at chaos," and "I want to propose a hike / and also propose mostly," Wong's style is confident and idiomatic, and by turns contemplative and carefree. Whether writing about family, intimate relationships, language, or women's experience, Wong creates a world alive with observation and provocation, capturing the essence and the problems of life with others.

Review Quotes

"An energetic and resonant collection."---Ian Pople, The Manchester Review

"Stem is full of colour and candour."---David Marx, David Marx Book Reviews

"Perceptive and gripping. . . . [Stem is] an impressive series of dramatic monologues. . . As Wong dips in and out of various personae, her biting cleverness remains consistent throughout. These insistent poems achieve a brash and beautiful irreverence."-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Stella Wong is the author of the poetry collection Spooks and the chapbook American Zero. Her poems have appeared in many publications, including Poetry, Los Angeles Review of Books, Colorado Review, Lana Turner, and Bennington Review.