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2 Poems by Jee Leong Koh

10/2/2020

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Jee Leong Koh is the author of Steep Tea (Carcanet), named a Best Book of the Year by UK's Financial Times and a Finalist by Lambda Literary in the US. He has published four other books of poems, including his most recent collection Connor & Seal (Sibling Rivalry). Originally from Singapore, Koh lives in New York City, where he heads the literary non-profit Singapore Unbound. https://singaporeunbound.org/
​

​Palinodes in the Voice of My Dead Father
 
"A palinode or palinody is an ode in which the writer retracts a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. The first recorded use of a palinode is in a poem by Stesichorus in the 7th century BC, in which he retracts his earlier statement that the Trojan War was all the fault of Helen." (Wikipedia)
Palinode II
 
​
Tell your mom
I don’t
 
love her less
than your sister.
 
I didn’t
speak to my wife
 
last because
we had
 
a whole life
together.
 
I thought
it was fair
 
since she has
our vows
 
your sister
has her dad’s
 
last words.
I’m full,
 
I nodded to
the bowl
 
of pork porridge
she brought.
 
If I had
to do it again,
 
I would have done it
differently,
 
but there’s no
do again
 
when one is dead
and now
 
your mom
is always hungry.

Palinode XV
 
​

Our last dinner
at the burger joint
 
with the bikers
theme,
 
eating not with
disciples on the road,
 
I did not have any,
but with
 
my family,
reassembled from the winds,
 
you and your worldly
American,
 
your sister, her husband,
and her two hearts,
 
your mother
sagging and smiling,
 
brought me
unspeakable happiness
 
until the waiter,
leather-clad, dark glasses,
 
who had been staying
out of sight
 
diplomatically,
asking us just once
 
how we had
enjoyed
 
his
recommendations,
 
saw we were done and
brought us the bill.
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  • Home
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