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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Poetry, Sri Lankan Literature, English Poetry

Book Review:
Nipuni Ranaweera's ''Teach me how to breathe'' is a powerful testament to the capacity of poetry to explore life's most profound questions. Following her critically acclaimed debut ''Take me in small doses,'' which earned a State Literary Award nomination, this second collection confirms Ranaweera as a distinctive voice in contemporary Sri Lankan poetry.

What strikes the reader immediately is the visceral quality of these poems. They don't merely describe emotions—they embody them. Love and loss are not abstract concepts here but lived experiences that ''exhale'' through the verses. Ranaweera's technical mastery is evident in her use of metaphor and symbol, which she deploys with such precision that they seem to breathe, choke, and gasp along with the reader.

The collection's range is impressive. Ranaweera moves seamlessly between deeply personal meditations and broader social commentaries, addressing political strife and the peculiar alienation of online existence alongside intimate explorations of relationships and creativity. The poems about the craft of writing itself are particularly meta-cognitive gems that will resonate with fellow writers.

Drawing on her dual background in literature and law, Ranaweera brings both analytical precision and emotional sensitivity to her work. The result is poetry that rewards multiple readings—each revisit reveals new layers of meaning, new connections, new reasons to catch your breath.

For lovers of poetry that engages seriously with the complexities of modern existence while maintaining lyrical beauty, ''Teach me how to breathe'' is an essential addition to any collection. It demonstrates that Sri Lankan English poetry is in exceptionally capable hands.