Chia-Lun Chang is one of the most incredibly talented young poets to emerge recently in America. Her most recent chapbook, published by the inescapable No, Dear Magazine, One Day We Become Whites signals in its title alone something of the provocation, mayhem and tireless invention that her new poem “Mississippi River” partakes in. Chang’s gifts are manifold, but for me the superlative grace lies in her ability to juxtapose: words, cultures, worlds, the puzzling imaginary and the frightening real. In this new prose-poem lyric, the speaker takes us on a rollicking jaunt through bizarre Americana mythologies care of someone who may be a Taiwanese immigrant, like the poet. More precisely, by seeing “our” evaporating national tokens from the outside, the poet’s irreverent and whimsical vision has gone further to the deep distorted interiors than anyone else perhaps could. The liquidity of Chang’s wits, her metaphors, her images, her phraseology is like no other living (or dead) poet I know. We start at the Mississippi, but before the ride’s over, the poem has us at “(oriental) mandarin” and “You’re a typhoon.” Here’s a poet to outlive us all.
—Adam Fitzgerald, Poetry Editor
Mississippi River
Claps. I’ve climbed two mountains for twenty-four seasons. Make no decision on the dark balcony. Claps progress. Sing a nagging song. I chose to leave after the landslides season. When a seat picked me, it turned off sunlight. Continue
clapping. Sarah picked five Fulbrighters up and two were vacant. I filled in for a reason. Five of them went every month. I went when I pray.
You always receive what you pray
for (prey on)
not having a car. You’re not mute. You’re nothin’ to talk about. Not Christian. You do not slush. When’s the moment for outside groups to
clap. American roads are dark. Sarah drove us to look at Southern culture. We picked and craved pumpkins and repeated Thanksgiving. We posted with forts in the parks. We arrived on the top of hills and read American Poetry. Mosquitos chomped because we did not yet have antibodies. Our bodies exist for a reason. I pray for
stop driving me to church’s (chicken). I pray for activities I was not allowed, flushing toilet for free, drowning our bodies in a fish tank, I soak donuts, stare at wild cats, live in the woods, mock the continent (land), lick doggy hairs in a dry machine, eat roadkill, add ketchup in the soup. I chase Mr. Twain and pray for
our bodies exist for a reason. Another woman has your name. She lives in an engraved castle. Clap her for number. One Korean murmured, I could have been sent to a better place. Sarah picks you three months later.
You’re recognized. You have not fought. You’re (oriental) mandarin. You’re typhoon.
