Reviewed by Tulia Thompson in Takahē.
Lemalu’s extensive use of direct quotes and pop culture references sometimes means that imagery doubles back uncomfortably. In “neo” he writes the superb, ‘search for the perfect blossom / and you wont find it / they are all perfect.’ I imagine the laden branches of warm pink blossoms that I once saw in springtime Vancouver, then feel disheartened upon realising that it is a reworked quote from The Last Samurai with a serious long-haired Tom Cruise and a serious case of what theorist Edward Said would call ‘Orientalism.’ I am left with the aftertaste of cherry cola.