a tanka is a cartographic principle

by Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé

this is the cloister –
he brought both hands together
and read its lines, no crossroads

her heartline and mind
wrist unsheathed and a column

its capital palm open
pavement in this romanesque

there is no intersection

this hall of glass galleries
and fountains, more thrashing wings

of chimeras and their tongues
dry tinder against his own
were it not for grace

From: 
Blood & Honey Review




Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé's picture

ABOUT THE POET ~
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé has edited more than ten books and co-produced three audio books. The titles span the genres of ethnography, journalism, creative nonfiction, and poetry, several edited pro bono for non-profit organizations including Sok Sabay Cambodia, Riding for the Disabled Association, and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. Previously an entertainment and lifestyle journalist, Desmond has traveled to Australia, France, Hong Kong and Spain for his stories, culminating in the authorship of the limited edition Top Ten TCS Stars for Caldecott Publishing. Trained in book publishing at Stanford University, with a theology masters (world religions) from Harvard University and fine arts masters (creative writing) from the University of Notre Dame, he is the recipient of the Hiew Siew Nam Academic Award, and Singapore Internationale Grant, with his poetry and fiction appearing in nine chapbooks, various anthologies, and over 140 literary journals. An interdisciplinary artist, Desmond also works in clay, his ceramic works housed in museums and private collections in India, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.


Last updated May 31, 2011