A Probability of Being

Listen! Listen! The shining golden sea glitters in the far distance; follow the brook down to where it meets the river rushing to its ultimate destiny. If you get lost, listen! listen! to its gurgling, its warbling, like a thousand yellow-feathered orioles, leading you back to its journey. Greet its rocks washed by its watery sunshine, and where it is shallow, watch the pebbles pushed along, liquid and solid rubbing against each other to form smooth gemstones that clink downstream in a senseless choir. Listen! Listen! The golden river runs!

One fine evening, I asked for poetry prompts, and a friend asked me to write a poem about bananas, the linguistic kind. I had to look it up. This was about three years ago, and it's still silly. Fruit Flies Like A Banana, Part 1:  “Mine,” snarked the snail. “No, mine!” cried the slug. “WE SHALL DESCEND AS A HOARD UPON THIS AND CLAIM IT AS OUR ANCESTRAL BIRTHRIGHT,” claimed the fruit flies. Thus was there a bloody war over the forgotten banana carelessly thrown under the bush. Fruit Flies Like A Banana, Part 2: Whenever they flapped their leaves, they tried very hard to mimick the grace of the yellow boomerang swirling in the air, leaving a smoothie in its wake. Ah, if only they could be content with the reality of being far-flung instead of trying to be what they were not. Fruit Flies Like A Banana, Part 3: But I’m not sure that this is a good idea; banana trees may only produce a single bunch in their lifetimes, but they also never stop growing and ...

i. The Proper Adjective perhaps not Happy New Year try a Furious New Year on for size try determined new year, try incandescent glorious righteous , try full of fight , try striving for justice , try screaming to the heavens new year ii. On Chickens Chickens are delicious. Chickens are also delightful creatures. Unfairly maligned as stupid, chickens are darling sweethearts that will sit calm in your arms, clucking soothingly. Chickens let their chicks find refuge in tender, warm, feathery hugs. Wouldn't you want that for your children, too? Be a good chook mom to them and other chicks, too. iii. The Moon, The Moon Lunar New Year springtime sprouts blossoms burst green shoots yellow pollen sun glares snow storms maybe gray skies lunar cycles lunatic songs counting days by crescents bright moon dark moon flickering lamplights 2% chance of rapists in the dark 80% chance of hurt at home 100% chance of fuckery in the big house making laws 1000% fed u...

I'm pleased to announce that I'm in recompose magazine #1: tropospheric scofflaw ! And very very honoured that my poem, " Sweetness and Light ," opens the magazine to a set of very interesting flash fiction! "Sweetness and Light" began with an idea of the very first two lines: "when she speaks, sweetness and light spill forth / literally." What would that be like, to live like that? Combined with rape culture and the entitlement of society towards young women's bodies and time, I decided to explore what would happen if boundaries were crossed too often for a person who lived with this phenomenon. Enjoy! 

In loving memory of Goh Mei Mei, passed 4/4/16

My latest poem, "Assimilation," is up at inkscrawl , a journal of minimalist speculative micropoetry! I share a table of contents with some wonderful people, and the editor,   Bogi Takács is a delightful person who keeps an eye out for marginalized voices! E tweets about #diversesff with a series of recommendations. "Assimilation" was inspired by the batik-dyeing process and Sean Kelly's Rainway challenge dress on Project Runway !

The wonderful Bogi Takacs is guest-editing inkscrawl, a micropoetry journal, and e has put together a wonderful table of contents ! My poem, "Assimilation," will be part of "Atypical Weather" that will come out later this fall.  I can't wait to read what my fellow contributors have written! This will also be Stephany Lu's first publication, and I am SO excited to see eir work! 

I wrote this during the Bersih 2.0 rally a few years ago, and am bringing it back for Bersih4.

Every sliver of injustice in our bones must be picked at, or sucked from the marrow; else slit open the flesh, reach in with your knife, remove the festering source. What good are your tools of righteousness, of goodwill, if they cannot break the fever?