Poetry at Sangam
Poetry at Sangam showcases poetry in English and translations as well as essays on poetics and news of new releases.
You moved house as if moving to heaven.
A few spectators and regrets
captured hastily in the viewfinder:
Death directed
the dusty screenplay
his thumbs and forefingers
framing a rectangle,
at unreasonable angles,
the antagonistic corners
of the coffin and the $50 note
Ladies and Gentlemen
please bow, pray and offer incense
while the suona wails, the mourners weep, the pop songs blare
stirring from slumber the prince and princess, post royal attire,
from last Wednesday’s Malay wedding,
all blissful gown and beautific smile
all promises made
all stages of life unforeseen
sickness and health, laughter and sorrow
every instance of joy and every smile
frozen for all time.
In the photograph darling Death too pays his respects
hands clasping
three rib bones
from the bosom of the deceased
(Translated from Chinese by Yang Shu Hung & the author, with inputs from Alvin Pang)
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