I keep returning to this collection of poems by Chinese Canadian poet Grace Lau. Every time I open this slim volume, I find a new poem that resonates in a profound way. Her poems speak of finding and celebrating oneself while still honouring where we were made. Her love and understanding for her culture, family, and growth blossom on each page. Pick up this book, open to any page, and enjoy the love she has placed there. ( )

A huge thank you to netgalley, author Grace Lau and publisher for granting me a free ecopy in exchange for my honest review of this little gem.

The Language We Were Never Taught to Speak is a collection of poetry that pulls inspiration from topics such as The Bible, pop culture, personal history, among others, in order to paint a hauntingly beautiful picture of various aspects of the LGBTQ community, immigration, Racism to name a few.

The author writes with such clarity, her prose flowing naturally within itself and beauty to paint a distinct image that the reader can not turn away from, nor deny. The pain, humiliation, and awkwardness is felt down to the bone because its written from the soul; the way poetry should be written.

My favorite excerpt is as follows:

The Next Time You Scold My Body

Nothing
and nobody has fought for me
like my body has, against stomach flus and rulers,
the honesty
of open palms,
my body, my protector,

my body, faultless
witness to nightweeps
and skinned knees, secrets
hidden between sleep's sheets.

I'm not sure that any reader could honestly say they don't feel moved by that in some way, and the best part is the whole book is like this.

Do not let this one slip past you. As for Grace Lau all I can say is without a doubt one to watch. I will be following and waiting to pounce on anything that may be coming. ( )