Fruits Poem By Goh Poh Seng !!link!! Jun 2026

Read a critical introduction to his lyrical and personal poetry style at Learn about his iconic first novel, If We Dream Too Long , and its impact on Southeast Asian literature on between this poem and his famous novel If We Dream Too Long Goh Poh Seng - Singapore - NLB

Goh Poh Seng’s "Fruits" remains a staple in classrooms and anthologies because it captures the "scent" of the tropics—a reminder that beauty is often found in the things we peel, bite, and swallow every day. fruits poem by goh poh seng

"Here, the durian waits like a crowned grenade, Its flesh a custard of thunder. The rambutan, hairy and red, Winks at the sun, hiding a pearl of acid-sweetness. You ask for my home? It is not a street or a block number. It is the stain of mangosteen purple on my thumb." Read a critical introduction to his lyrical and

Goh’s genius lies in his refusal to weep openly. Instead, he offers the fruit as a surrogate home. When the physical geography disappears, the tastebuds become the last map. To eat a durian is to visit a demolished village. To suck on a rambutan pulp is to hear your grandmother’s voice. You ask for my home

In these lines, the poet transforms the physical act of eating into a metaphysical anchor. The "stain of mangosteen purple" becomes more permanent than concrete—a hereditary ink of belonging.