When we first encounter the title “Fruits” by Goh Poh Seng (1936–2010), a certain expectation blooms. We think of sweetness, ripeness, the generous bounty of tropical earth. Given that Goh was a Singaporean-born writer, physician, and eventual Canadian exile, the image of mangoes, rambutans, or durians might come to mind—the sticky, sun-drenched lexicon of home.
The poem pivots from the luscious description of the fruit to the human element: the beggars. Goh Poh Seng employs a deliberate structural parallel to connect the two: fruits poem by goh poh seng
tone. In "Fruits," he avoids overly complex metaphors, opting instead for a grounded, almost tactile approach that invites the reader to share in the physical act of consumption. When we first encounter the title “Fruits” by
First, . By centering local fruits (rather than apples or pears), Goh rejects colonial literary traditions. In 1960s Singapore, writing poetry about durians was a radical act of self-definition. It said: We have our own language, our own tastes, our own measures of beauty. The poem pivots from the luscious description of
The following paper explores Goh Poh Seng ’s poem "Fruits,"
The poem by Goh Poh Seng (1936–2010), a pioneering figure in Singaporean literature, is a lyrical exploration of nature's beauty and its role as a source of emotional sustenance. Text Summary