‘Selections from a Small Book of Questions’
— Andrew Sargus Klein
I am still lost in this poem by Chen Chen. The form (the poet answering self-imposed questions) is so clear, so effortless, it creates multiple angles of entry into the heart of the content. To be queer within a family, within a culture, and how that changes how you think about death, how you think about yourself outside yourself, because that sort of personal removal from your own presence is so necessary sometimes. The act of answering our/your own questions can give a sense of calm and a sense of control in the face of a near-miss car accident, a mother who does not see your sexuality as legitimate, and the depthless face of love.