Two Minute Buddha Jumps Over the Wall
when I grow up I will be God
of Cooking, grow
up will be Saint of Gambling
be Tricks Expert, tough—
as things look
up down comes
a Goddess from the skies
to suggest
light my internal
flame I can
fry an egg by— hey
demure bun
maker hi plucky
assorted noodle
lady our love possible
after extensive
facial surgery—
this close-up tear
dripping down your cheek
is onion in my barbecue pork
the most sorrowful
barbecue pork
ever!
exploding pissing
beef balls!
I suppose I
will reincarnate in the bigger
budget sequel
I sweat too much
& you’re my uncle
For When All is Said & Done You Get Born Again for Better Days
I’m doing great
from the neck down
one minute
wakes
early sweeping the next
shatters & I’m lush
w/ praise
try as you may to silence
the oil spot
the tortoiseshell
glaze alone remains
as it was before
you crave immediate
effect while I alone remain
as I was before
one moment soap
bubbles the next teacups &
would you have
guessed it was a sonnet
if I’d not said?
what a world-class world!
Tse Hao Guang (謝皓光) is a Singaporean poet and editor, assembled with parts from Hong Kong and Malaysia. His first full-length poetry collection, “Deeds of Light,” was shortlisted for the 2016 Singapore Literature Prize. He co-edited literary anthologies UnFree Verse and Food Republic, and the e-journal OF ZOOS. He is a 2016 fellow of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program, and the 2018 National Writer-in-Residence at Nanyang Technological University. www.tsehaoguang.com.