Essence (Thuy On, UWAP)

Thuy On’s latest poetry collection, Essence, is a meditation on life as an artist. The poems span a variety of subjects and are divided into three sections. The first, ‘Art’, explores the role literature plays in today’s society, frustrations with publishing practices, and the precariousness of being a writer. The second, ‘Heart’, delves into the cycle of love—falling intensely in and out of it—and how the poet navigates its ebbs and flows. The final section, ‘A la Carte’, focuses on poetry itself, illustrating how small elements such as conjunctions and punctuation contribute to a poem’s structure. The collection references popular culture, including Kylie Minogue, the Western literary canon, and well-known visual artists such as Pissarro. While perhaps not all readers will immediately recognise the references to artworks, the literary ones are likely more familiar. I found the exacting ‘Twelve classic texts in Haiku’ particularly enjoyable. In Essence, On (Turbulence) experiments with forms including free verse, listing, haiku, ekphrasis, prose poems and more, with ample space between poems creating a rhythm that allows each to resonate before the reader moves on. This thoughtfully crafted and concise collection by an adept writer captivates with its lyrical yet feisty charm. It should be enjoyed by and accessible to poetry readers of all levels, avid readers of Western literary classics, and fans of On’s Stella Prize–longlisted Decadence.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Hellai Gul (she/they) is a literary critic, writer, and poet living and working on sovereign Burramattagal and Gadigal lands. She is passionate about diverse voices in contemporary Australian writing and is currently curating poems for a collection. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews