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dianahincureads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
“Even killing can be mass produced.”
February 1st 2021. The people of Myanmar wake up to a new devastating reality. The military coup crushed the efforts of the people for a just, democratic state, plunging everyone into turmoil. The democratically elected ruling party is removed from power. The junta is in control. The Spring Revolution is starting.
This brilliant anthology is a non-profit collaboration that puts forth the voices of the Burmese people fighting against the junta. It is cut into 3 parts presented in reverse chronological order. Starting with the 2021 military coup, it ends in 1988, a significant date for the state since it mirrors the events of 2021. The ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy is the backbone of these writings. There is a wide range of voices and formats, all witness accounts of the protests, the extreme police brutality, and the gruesome murders of peaceful protesters and activists. These personal accounts paint a haunting portrait of the events. Despite the very dark themes explored, what resurfaces time and again is people’s support for each other, their resilience, and bravery. “Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring” is a collective ode to justice, honouring those who didn’t survive in the face of oppression. Many poets and activists featured in this anthology are no longer alive. Their poems are usually introduced by touching eulogies that contextualise their work and efforts.
This is by far one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read. Please pick it up. The book is available for FREE as an e-book on the Ethos Books website.
TW: death, police brutality, torture, rape.
February 1st 2021. The people of Myanmar wake up to a new devastating reality. The military coup crushed the efforts of the people for a just, democratic state, plunging everyone into turmoil. The democratically elected ruling party is removed from power. The junta is in control. The Spring Revolution is starting.
This brilliant anthology is a non-profit collaboration that puts forth the voices of the Burmese people fighting against the junta. It is cut into 3 parts presented in reverse chronological order. Starting with the 2021 military coup, it ends in 1988, a significant date for the state since it mirrors the events of 2021. The ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy is the backbone of these writings. There is a wide range of voices and formats, all witness accounts of the protests, the extreme police brutality, and the gruesome murders of peaceful protesters and activists. These personal accounts paint a haunting portrait of the events. Despite the very dark themes explored, what resurfaces time and again is people’s support for each other, their resilience, and bravery. “Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring” is a collective ode to justice, honouring those who didn’t survive in the face of oppression. Many poets and activists featured in this anthology are no longer alive. Their poems are usually introduced by touching eulogies that contextualise their work and efforts.
This is by far one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read. Please pick it up. The book is available for FREE as an e-book on the Ethos Books website.
TW: death, police brutality, torture, rape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Alcoholism
benjaminbarlow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
sebby_reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
To commemorate the one-year anniversary of 2021 Burmese Revolution, Ethos Books published ‘Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring:Witness poems & essays from Burma/Myanmar 1988-2021’ to share the voices of Burmese people and their fight against Tatmadaw (the military junta). The e-book is free to download internationally on Ethos Books’ website. Thanks a lot to Ethos Books for providing me an e-ARC of this book.
Two editors, Ko Ko Thett (Burmese poet & literary translator) and Brian Haman (researcher & writer), compiled the writing of poets and writers from various ethnic groups and backgrounds. Some are written in English and some are translated from Burmese. This anthology features a variety of voices including prominent contemporary authors and activists. Organized in reverse chronological order, the contents showcase the regime’s oppression towards the citizen for generations. First section comprises poems and essays on 2021 revolution and it fills the half of the book. The second section covers the writing from 2010 to 2020 whereas the final section includes the content from 1988 to 2010. Rather than labelling as ‘resistance’ writing, the editors used the term ‘witness poems and essays’ as it is more subjective and has no political agenda manifestation.
The anthology is sharp and multifaceted. It includes the events in early days of revolutions such as various forms of nationwide protests, personal account on fleeing one’s own home to refuge camp, stories and tributes to our fallen heroes as well as about the courageous people who stood up for the injustice. The transformation of the revolution can be studied in a few essays, too. Some of writers and poets in the book were tortured or shot to dead by the junta. Some have been sentenced to multiple years in prison. Some entered the jungle and joined the ethnic armed organisations to fight the regime. Some have to flee the country for safety.
I received the ARC in early January and honestly, it was not an easy read as it hit so close to home. I have a chest full of emotions jumbled together. I feel enraged and dejected in some parts cause the poems and essays are very graphic. These are our wounds. Some are my own bruise, some are my friends’ and all are our people’s wounds endured for many years. I had to take several breaks while reading it, sometimes hours and at times, days. Equivalently, I get encouraged by the empowering stories of the people who are resolute and unswerving in this fight. Yes, our wounds are still fresh and they have barely healed. Reading this book is like picking off the scabs unconsciously which makes the wounds fresh again. But I am also reminded to keep resisting the injustice and involve in this revolution.
I received the ARC in early January and honestly, it was not an easy read as it hit so close to home. I have a chest full of emotions jumbled together. I feel enraged and dejected in some parts cause the poems and essays are very graphic. These are our wounds. Some are my own bruise, some are my friends’ and all are our people’s wounds endured for many years. I had to take several breaks while reading it, sometimes hours and at times, days. Equivalently, I get encouraged by the empowering stories of the people who are resolute and unswerving in this fight. Yes, our wounds are still fresh and they have barely healed. Reading this book is like picking off the scabs unconsciously which makes the wounds fresh again. But I am also reminded to keep resisting the injustice and involve in this revolution.
Title of this book is a slight resemblance to a quote from the Nobel prize winning poet Pablo Neruda—“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.” Spring has always been a symbol of hope. It is the return of warm sunbeams after long cold winter nights. Though people’s spirit can be obscured for certain amount of time but it can never be broken over the long run. We shall keep fighting the darkness with the light within us.
So, for fellow Burmese people and those who have experienced abuse and oppression, please beware of graphic and violent contents. Take a break if necessary. What important for us as the readers is what we take from our read. This book exhibits our collective traumas and I hope to overcome them collectively, as well. Many of us took our fragile democracy for granted. It is a valid reminder that a “learning experience” for us could come at the expense of the feelings and lives of our own. Last, but never the least, our revolution must prevail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
⚠️TW: This book has graphic representations of tortures and killings by Tatmadaw. Blood can be found in almost every story. Read with caution, please.‼️slightlyliterary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
"Not only does this corpus of writing demonstrate the power and possibilities of the written word when faced with the barrel of a gun, but it also reveals Burmese writing to be aesthetically accomplished and significant. In this respect, witness writings from Myanmar should not be understood merely as a local phenomenon with only local relevance, but rather seen within the international context of recent resistant art movements.”
Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring is a collection of poetry and prose written by the people of Burma, with its content focusing on the events of the 2021 coup and the fight for democracy throughout its history.
Here, they have a space and voice to share their various experiences; and while they are all heartbreaking and painful to read, these various authors also retain their hope and conviction of a better future for themselves and their country. From spring to footwear, they take what has been thrown at them with grace and return it with an unending flame that continues to burn to this day. As someone who isn't part of this community, I feel it's only right for me to urge you to read this collection and hear from the people themselves.
Some stories/poetry that continue to linger in my mind are:
Two Words I Hate The Most - Commentary on the inaction of international governments in the face of violence, though I find this to be applicable to the general public as well.
The Noble - Recognises the bravery and legacy of those who resist; "The message continues to travel far and wide. Never believe for a moment that the black-hearted have won."
Shifting Targets and the Transformation of the Spring Revolution - An account of the progression of the Spring revolution in 2021, highlighting the heart, strength and solidarity of the people in the face of increasing violence.
Fearless Tiger - A poem written by Hanthawaddy U Win Tin while he was in prison; "I won't lose hope, I won't give up, / Now I'm the anvil, later the hammer;"
What's going on? - A poem criticising the junta that was widely circulated during the 1988 Uprising and has made a comeback after the 2021 coup.
Thank you to Ethos Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A free e-book copy is available on their website for anyone interested!!
Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring is a collection of poetry and prose written by the people of Burma, with its content focusing on the events of the 2021 coup and the fight for democracy throughout its history.
Here, they have a space and voice to share their various experiences; and while they are all heartbreaking and painful to read, these various authors also retain their hope and conviction of a better future for themselves and their country. From spring to footwear, they take what has been thrown at them with grace and return it with an unending flame that continues to burn to this day. As someone who isn't part of this community, I feel it's only right for me to urge you to read this collection and hear from the people themselves.
Some stories/poetry that continue to linger in my mind are:
Two Words I Hate The Most - Commentary on the inaction of international governments in the face of violence, though I find this to be applicable to the general public as well.
The Noble - Recognises the bravery and legacy of those who resist; "The message continues to travel far and wide. Never believe for a moment that the black-hearted have won."
Shifting Targets and the Transformation of the Spring Revolution - An account of the progression of the Spring revolution in 2021, highlighting the heart, strength and solidarity of the people in the face of increasing violence.
Fearless Tiger - A poem written by Hanthawaddy U Win Tin while he was in prison; "I won't lose hope, I won't give up, / Now I'm the anvil, later the hammer;"
What's going on? - A poem criticising the junta that was widely circulated during the 1988 Uprising and has made a comeback after the 2021 coup.
Thank you to Ethos Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A free e-book copy is available on their website for anyone interested!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, and Police brutality
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