Poh Seng [extra Quality] | Fruits Poem By Goh

However, notice the verbs. The rambutan "with" their hair; the durian is "thorn-defended, kind." Goh personifies each fruit, giving them character and agency. The durian, notoriously feared by Westerners for its smell, is called "kind" because its thorny exterior protects a custardy heart. This is a poet who understands that ugliness or danger often guards the most tender truths. The genius of the fruits poem by Goh Poh Seng lies in its second half—the shift from description to philosophy.

In this article, we will dissect the , moving beyond its lush surface to uncover the anxieties of a post-colonial generation, the tension between rural and urban life, and the delicate art of savoring sweetness before it rots. I. The Context: Who Was Goh Poh Seng? Before we bite into the poem, we must understand the hand that offers the fruit. Goh Poh Seng was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1936 but spent his most formative literary years in Singapore. He was a doctor by training (University College Dublin), but a poet by vocation. This duality—the scientist’s precision married to the artist’s passion—is everywhere in the "Fruits Poem." fruits poem by goh poh seng

First, . By centering local fruits (rather than apples or pears), Goh rejects colonial literary traditions. In 1960s Singapore, writing poetry about durians was a radical act of self-definition. It said: We have our own language, our own tastes, our own measures of beauty. However, notice the verbs