Event Info
A reading by internationally acclaimed poet, novelist and playwright GOH POH SENG: GOH POH SENG
GOH POH SENG
MONDAY, FEB 23 2004 - 8PM
HAVANA RESTARAUNT
1212 COMMERCIAL DR...
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Free
Artists
Poetry/Spoken Word from Vancouver BC
Event Description
GOH POH SENG
MONDAY, FEB 23 2004 - 8PM
HAVANA RESTARAUNT
1212 COMMERCIAL DRIVE
VANCOUVER, B.C.
At a solo reading at the Dow Library, UC Berkeley, Robert Hass, former US Poet Laureate introduced Goh as “one of the most important writers from his part of the world.” Remarkably versatile, he is not only a poet but also an important novelist and playwright. His poetry has been included in such anthologies as “THE POETIC LANGUAGE: Anthology of Great Poems of the English-speaking World”, Published by Macmillan.
The late Charles Causeley, the doyen of the British poetry scene, included Goh’s poetry in his anthology, The Sun Dancing. and praised Goh’s work as “being the very finest. Splendid work!“
“Goh Poh Seng is a Singaporean who has demonstrated that given sufficient impetus, a man endowed with the gift of expression can create a literature which inspires and moves by its very insistence on a refusal to accept realities in any manner that borders on compromise. The hazards faced by a creative writer who uses the resources of a language not natively his own are many and varied; the risks involved are therefore enormous. However, and perhaps in spite of this very reason, the few writers who have made good in this respect, succeed chiefly because undaunted by the pressures confronting them, they have been able to fuse their experiences in words that resonate with an unmistakable force their grasp of the finer shades of the language they choose to write in.”
-Hemisphere, Australia
“A word must be said here about the poet’s international ease. He reaches beyond the constrains imposed by family, country, work, and seeks and finds new energy, new insights so that he may later return, renewed.”
-New Pacific Quarterly, New Zealand.
OTHER PRAISES OF GOH POH SENG’S POEMS
“Certainly, one of Asia’s finest living poets.”
- Asia Magazine
“Goh Poh Seng, at last! With all my heart.”
- Robert Creeley
“With great admiration.”
-Grace Schulman, the Nation
“A fine day of poetry and conversation. Alas, your visit to Oakhampton is too belated and too brief. Must meet again- soon!”
- Ted Hughes
“With great admiration for your writing and gratefulness for our friendship.”
- Yusef Komunyakaa, Pulitzer Prize
“A top notch poet, novelist, playwright…”
- Asia Week
“Please read Goh Poh Seng’s poetry while there’s still time.”
- George Elliott Clarke, Halifax Herald
“He brings his personal history of love, despair, passion and honesty to his work; and a poetic eye
that distills what is essential in life’s moments.”
-Aaron Lee, The Strait’s Times
Venue
1212 Commercial Drive
Open / Operational
In-Person Event
Mon. February 23rd 2004 + Add to Calendar
Havana
