Elegy for Opportunity

by Natalie Lim

Review

Publisher: Wolsak & Wynn (Buckrider Books)
Release Date: April 8, 2025

This was a sweet and surprisingly moving collection, funny at times, sad at others, and very much a book of the moment.

The heart of it revolves around Opportunity (or “Oppy”), the little NASA rover sent to Mars. A lot of the poems are written to her, like letters, apologies, reflections. But eventually, you realize the poet’s not really writing to Oppy.

The poems feel light and playful on the surface, with nods to Taylor Swift, Dungeons & Dragons, and even a pop culture references to Sabrina Carpenter. But underneath that is real vulnerability, questions about love, family, creativity, and what it means to be alive in the world today.

One line that stuck with me:
“Love and violence, best intentions, most tender of cruelties.”
Another, from early in the book:
“What if I am done with diaspora’s trauma... I want to write about the kid who crossed the monkey bars all in one go.”

That’s the voice you get in this collection. It’s young and accessible without being immature or shallow. These poems are current, and can be painfully honest. But they also reach for joy, tenderness, and connection.

I think this would be a great entry point for people who don’t usually read poetry. It's relevant and relatable, especially for younger readers or anyone who's been feeling kind of lost lately.

Thank you to River Street Writes for the review copy.

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