“Those whom the gods . . .”

For Y-Dang

In the shadow of Death’s news,
Stricken wordless, falling prey
To the monsters of English
Cliches, dumb-founded, as to
Dive into a blank absence,
forty plus years dropped into
infinite time, I am tasked
for a tribute, a piece, perhaps,
On her past and passing.
How to brighten the warrior
Woman-child of a US war,
Palms closed, fingers scatting
Salvage and salvation in
This infinite human silence?

Shirley G. Lim (PhD, Brandeis University)’s recent publications include poems in the Hudson Review and Feminist Studies, and a chapter in Good Eats (NYU Press). Awards include the UCSB Research Lectureship, Multiethnic Literatures of the United States (MELUS), and Feminist Press Lifetime Achievement awards. Visiting professorships include those at MIT; NUS; National Sun Yat-sen University; and the English Chair Professor at Hong Kong University. Lim is a recipient of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and two American Book Awards. Lim has a published memoir, Among the White Moon Faces; twelve poetry collections, recently including Dawns Tomorrow; three novels; the Shirley Lim Collection; three story collections; two critical studies; and about a dozen edited/co-edited anthologies and journal special issues.