Madeleine Lee (b. 1962)
SELECTED POEMS
princess
the entrance to the channel
innocuous enough
says on the sign the princess
is related to the grape vine
its small black fruit
a fix for rheumatism and diabetesentering with extended arms
outstretched palms eyes closed
i negotiate the six canopies
what future lies in my hands
drawn by the fine vine roots
starting at the life line at the wrist
moving up to the head line
across the heart line towards
every fingertip traces the past
feels the future in my gripwhen it stops eyes open to
prehistoric tiger orchid on the left
red saga in front and on the right
jelutong flowers on the tarmac
like thousands of asterisks
by Madeleine Lee
from flinging the triplets (2015)
