When we first encounter the title “Fruits” by Goh Poh Seng (1936–2010), a certain expectation blooms. We think of sweetness, ripeness, the generous bounty of tropical earth. Given that Goh was a Singaporean-born writer, physician, and eventual Canadian exile, the image of mangoes, rambutans, or durians might come to mind—the sticky, sun-drenched lexicon of home.
Goh Poh Seng (1936–2010) wrote with the precision of a doctor and the soul of a poet. In “Fruits,” tropical fruits become metaphors for identity, loss, and the sensual geography of Southeast Asia.
Introduction
: Goh acknowledges that "coming days" are unpredictable, and we often cannot tell if they will go "for well or ill". A Reservoir of Joy
Goh Poh Seng died in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada—far from the tropical orchards of his youth. One wonders if, in his final days, he thought of his own poem. Did he see the "silver spoon" unhooking his own sweetness? Did he, like the fruit, learn to leave the light? fruits poem by goh poh seng
"Sitting there, stumps of legs / Like heavy logs."
“Fruits” by Goh Poh Seng isn’t just about eating. It’s about memory, migration, and the taste of home. One of Singapore’s essential poems. Read it slowly—like peeling a rambutan. 🍈 Beyond the Sugary Peel: Biting into Goh Poh
If we listen closely, the poem answers: Yes. And that is why you must eat the fruit today.
: The core of the poem lies in the fruit’s willingness to "give so delightfully of themselves". Goh suggests that this inherent generosity should fill us with joy, acting as a spiritual "store" to draw upon during darker times. Resilience Against Uncertainty Goh Poh Seng (1936–2010) wrote with the precision