Poem-a-Day - "Wail" by Johnson Cheu

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
July 21, 2023 

Wail

Johnson Cheu
for the young who ask, “How did you learn to like yourself?”

There are glaciers, imposing, yet shrinking.
There is the iris, violet sky cradling shards of sun.
The white Bengal tiger, snow and black ink.
Infinite reasons I could give for gladness,

though none may salve the wound from which
your question arises, how to be glad to be alive?
Stitch your heart’s fissure: recall family, friends,
a slap, cigarette burn, the rod, something smashed 

down, or welled up in your darkened pupil.
Turn outward: two A.M. streets, the creeps in cars,
the chaos of human folly delivered by calm,
coiffed news anchors. The wound is within you

and not. The answer within you and not.
Want, comfort, desire, love ought not be wounds.
We pine for them from our first wail,
what you must give and take, till no voice is left.

Copyright © 2023 by Johnson Cheu. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on July 21, 2023, by the Academy of American Poets. 

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“Young people often ask me about living with a disability. For my generation of disabled persons, growing up with mostly only telethons as images of disability, bitterness, depression, and tragedy were (and sometimes still are) presumptions. It doesn’t surprise me, working with students who are coming to terms with who they are, that I get asked about ‘liking myself.’ What’s surprising is how these negative stereotypes of anger, bitterness, etc., remain, even today. The poem begins with images of nature and beauty, in part to counter the history of ugliness and ‘freaks’ that are a large part of disability history. The poem ends with the idea of voice, which is what so many young people are trying to find for themselves.”
—Johnson Cheu

Johnson Cheu

Johnson Cheu is a poet and assistant professor in the department of writing, rhetoric, and American cultures at Michigan State University.

“An Image of the Book In Which I Hear You” by Nicholas Gulig
read more
“Coherence in Consequence” by Claudia Rankine
read more

Thanks to John Lee Clark, author of How to Communicate (W. W. Norton & Company, 2022), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Read or listen to a Q&A about Clark’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year.
“Poem-a-Day is brilliant because it makes space in the everyday racket for something as meaningful as a poem.” —Tracy K. Smith

If this series is meaningful to you, join the community of Poem-a-Day supporters by making a gift today. Now serving more than 320,000 daily subscribers, this publication is only possible thanks to the contributions of readers like you.
 
Copyright © 2023 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.



Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
STE #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from all Academy messages.

For any other questions, please visit the Poem-a-Day FAQ page.

Older messages

"The Genie Speaks" by Nathan Spoon

Thursday, July 20, 2023

I will start again tomorrow, after waking under Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 20, 2023 The Genie Speaks Nathan Spoon I will start again tomorrow, after waking under the fingernails

"The Caseworker Speaks of a Good Fit" by DJ Savarese

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Morning laps at its bowl of water. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 19, 2023 The Caseworker Speaks of a Good Fit DJ Savarese Morning laps at its bowl of water. The lake eagerly greets

"During drought, the heat becomes a devil girl with oven-red lips"

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023 Summer Poems With the dog days of summer now upon us, embrace the swelter with these poems from Poets.org: “Poem in July” by Samuel Amadon “They'll Spend the Summer” by Joshua Beckman

"Parasitoid" by Frank Gallimore

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Her father said don't stay out late, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 18, 2023 Parasitoid Frank Gallimore Her father said don't stay out late, his hand too long on her

"Ship/Plum" by Maija Haavisto

Monday, July 17, 2023

the ears lie but claim Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day July 17, 2023 Ship/Plum Maija Haavisto the ears lie but claim the eyes lie or perhaps the body either way the world is a ship I call

You Might Also Like

Kim Kardashian Stunned In Princess Diana’s Necklace On The Red Carpet

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The LACMA Art + Film Gala looks were epic. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.4.2024 As soon as the calendar switches over to September, I usually go all in on the autumnal vibes. That means

5 Reasons to Ditch Your Bank and Join a Credit Union

Monday, November 4, 2024

My Favorite Apple Intelligence Feature Is Notification Management. A credit union is better for your bottom line and offers you something banks never will: A voice. Not displaying correctly? View this

Coal CEOs are the new crypto bros

Monday, November 4, 2024

Alliance Resource Partners isn't just mining coal anymore. It's also mining Bitcoin. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Kim Kardashian Wore Princess Diana’s $200K Necklace With A Plunging Gown

Monday, November 4, 2024

Plus, Dolly Parton's beauty routine, Jennifer Lawrence's fave sneakers, your horoscope, & more. Nov. 4, 2024 Bustle Daily Procedurals Are Perfect Comfort TV For Election Anxiety Procedurals

‘I’m a Gay, Devout Muslim Man. How Can I Find Love Without Betraying My Family?’

Monday, November 4, 2024

Today in style, self, culture, and power. The Cut November 4, 2024 ESTHER CALLING 'I'm a Gay, Devout Muslim Man. How Can I Find Love Without Betraying My Family?' Esther Perel talks to this

15 Can't Miss Holiday Gift Ideas From the Editors of Men's Health

Monday, November 4, 2024

Men's Health Shop logo FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $50+ View in Browser Men's Health Holiday Gift Picks rotating Men's Health Editors Solve Your Shopping Dilemmas Holiday shopping doesn't

MIDDI Rewind: Let It Glow

Monday, November 4, 2024

Three buys to add sparkle, shine and ambiance to your holiday celebrations. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Boulder

Monday, November 4, 2024

Visiting my mom in Maine ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Density And Specialization

Monday, November 4, 2024

Businesses, products, and services come after people ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

How Kamala Harris Made 2024 a Real Race

Monday, November 4, 2024

Trump was headed toward an easy win before Harris stepped in ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏