Poetry. Anthologies. Asian Studies. ANXIETY OF WORDS focuses on the work of three contemporary Korean woman poets whose fierce poetic voices display a critical consciousness of women's lives under patriarchy, capitalism, and neocolonialism. The poetry of Ch'oe Sung-ja, Kim Hyesoon, and Yi Yon-ju consistently violates the literary expectations of gentle and subservient yoryu (female) poetry through innovative language and depictions of Korean women's identities and struggles. Each poet is represented, in bilingual format, by approximately twenty poems and a biographical introduction. The volume also contains a detailed introduction to the Korean poetry scene by translator Don Mee Choi, with a focus on the historical and contemporary role of women poets in Korea.