Review: Song of a Lotus Leaf by Renhui

With a reverent pen and an enlightened mind, Renhui delivers a restorative collection of poetry with Song of a Lotus Leaf. As the title implies, this is classic meditative poetry about the inherent and simplistic beauty of the world, but there is a strong base of self-examination beneath the surface of these observational pieces.

Acknowledging the clear divide in her years, between lifetimes in China and the United States, she also blurs the lines of experience and memory, making this polished collection both a memoir and a guidebook – a tome of appreciation, presence, and peace. While some of the pieces take on a somber note, delving into the nuanced pain of death and loss, Renhui doesn’t dwell on the darkness, but instead moves through these plaintive moments with curiosity and keen observation.

Between the sharp recollection and tangible images, there are beautiful stretches that carry readers away from reality, as Renhui weaves memory with make-believe, from the playful queries of “where is my poem today?” and the repetitive prayers of “sing, sing, sing” to the straightforward koans of “the heart opens” and the philosophical musing of “the invisible S in yin yang.”

The ability to move so freely between style and tone is a great achievement for any poet, yet there is also careful attention to rhythm and flow between individual pieces and larger sections. Puppeteering readers’ emotions with care, few transitions feel jarring or surprising, as the mood elides between each page.

Thematically, the work touches on a wide range of subjects, from romance and lost love to new directions, evolution, separation, and celebration. While these are common and well-worn ideas, Renhui often couches them within examinations of the natural world, finding easy linguistic bridges to show this reflection of the internal and external. Growth, change, awakening, slumber, ecstasy, and so many other experiences are not exclusive to human beings, and this poetry plays with the overlaps that people often fail to appreciate.

The photography interspersed with the poetry is often as enigmatic as the verses themselves; underground caverns and uniquely lit scenes give the impression of a dream world, or at the very least, a rare perspective on our visible realm. From stalactites to the soothing palette of water lilies, the images are both soothing and thought-provoking, sometimes clearly tied to the poems, and other times, serving as a colorful palate cleanser between ideas. Most of the strongest images are of natural scenes, particularly the vivid composite photo following “starry night sky,” as well as the reflection-focused shots of sunsets, submerged fish, and mountain vistas.

There are some pieces that don’t feel as well-developed or impactful, such as the searching questions of “a new day” and the rather plain sentiment of “my last trip” – when so many of these poems hit hard enough to immediately read again, the lesser works stand out more notably. A careful editorial pen could trim these redundant or soft-landing pieces, though the overall curation of this sensitive tome deserves plenty of praise.

These minor criticisms aside, Song of a Lotus Leaf is a gentle, profound, and revitalizing collection.