A review by joelogsliterature
Precedented Parroting by Barbara Tran

reflective fast-paced

4.0

I think some of the environmental motif’s actual messaging could have been more clear. I was surprised to see the epigraph given the proportion of the work based in this issue versus the author’s experience as a Vietnamese-American and especially in relation to her parents. Similarly the shifting to non-avian animals feels slightly off at times, but it’s never complete. I just don’t think that soaring feeling is tightly maintained. These are mere quibbles. 

By Section 2, I was impressed. The cage metaphor is executed fantastically. Some of my favorite poems were: Blue from a Distance, Buttercups in Foil on the Windowsill, Loon Song (!!), Precedented Parroting pt1 (the other parts feel a bit mixed for me), the entirety of Môt: Rooted (apologies for my lack of Vietnamese diacritic options), Unframed, Hai: Present Tense [!!!] and the final page *ten for a bird you must not miss*. 

I will see if Tran has anything else interesting sounding. 

Props to Yen Ha as well. The cover design is great.