by Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
this thieving of love
tightrope against what it means –
to visit the past
who is good; who wrong?
which brittle, yellowing build?
of old, bluing tarpaulin?
uniform as points, squares, lined
instincts and numbers primed too
quiet eyes like dark opal
their squircle an open seat
under chestnut shade
as with basho on his mat
there he lays, small, crouched
under a low-lying cave
its long, empty lake
praetoria of ruins gone
fingers curled into his palm
unfurling, unclenched –
tired hope for newer days
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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 September 14, 2011