The poem " Fruits " 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
A recurring motif in Goh’s work is the cycle of life and the inevitability of change. "Fruits" touches upon the fleeting nature of ripeness, symbolizing the passage of time and the fragility of memory. The transition from the sweetness of a fresh harvest to the eventual decay serves as a poignant reminder of the shifting social and physical landscape of Singapore during its rapid urbanization. Conclusion fruits poem by goh poh seng
Nature vs. Human Uncertainty: There is a stark contrast between the steady, seasonal growth of the fruit and the human inability to "tell for sure whether the coming days will go for well or ill". The poem " Fruits " by Goh Poh
The poem reminds us that the simplest things—a slice of papaya, the scent of a durian—can carry the weight of belonging, exile, and time. The transition from the sweetness of a fresh
In the market's humid mouth the fruit stalls call— a riot of skin and sun, the small loud tongues of mango, papaya, rambutans like sparks, and dragonfruit the color of a neon dusk. Hands sift through harvests, trading knowing glances: a wrinkle means sweetness, a green edge means wait. A child grips a guava like a fist of promise, teeth bright as teeth can be, eager as summer.
The Quiet Architecture of Becoming
In “Fruits,” the act of eating becomes an act of remembering. The speaker tastes the sweetness, but the palate is now foreign. Canadian apples are crisp but lack the volcanic perfume of a Southeast Asian guava. The poem mourns not just the fruit, but the tongue that once knew how to name it without translation.