Novelty , livre ebook

Praise for Novelty
Michael Ting s Novelty sets the stage for a poet whose work stretches, moves, questions, and performs on the page. These poems create their own logic-stitching reality to imagination and serving as its own masterclass in illustrating metaphors out of galaxies, prayers, and cooking. Ting often calls out whiteness as an Asian American poet and speaker, I still rewrite the parts of myself / that don't sit well / with a White audience, where poems resist white supremacy appearing as other [ words ]. These poems are food and full of a voice exploring dimensions of emotions, and how to know a body intimate. Ting shows us that a novelty is an experience and life examined, turned, tipped, and splayed.
-
Janice Lobo Sapigao, 2020-21 Santa Clara County
Poet Laureate
Michael Ting s poetry demands your full attention. Ting is the kind of poet who is able to hone in on one topic and expand the language to its full extent. Novelty is a trove of clever writing and generous intimacy that Ting gifts to the reader. These poems are fresh, explosive, and are aptly named Novelty. The crafting and care of this book will make Michael Ting your new favorite poet
-
Alex Dang, TEDx speaker. Eugene Poetry Grand
Slam Champion. 4x National Poetry Slam
competitor.
Michael Ting has accomplished a rare thing with this collection. When we think he is speaking of China, he is holding a mirror up to America. When we are certain he is speaking of himself, he is discussing what family means. When we think he is toying with us, he is showing us who we are and who we're capable of becoming. This work deserves our attention, our appreciation and our devotion. Like Hai Zi, Michael is speaking a world view while wearing the hat of laymen, so that we might feel comfortable looking over his shoulder at his world. Like Duo Duo, Michael convinces us to smile, to laugh, and once our mouths are open, he introduces bites of observation we might have fought against, but having now tasted them, find ourselves wanting more. This work is America, China, modern, and old school all at once. And very, very, human.
-
Ed Mabrey, NAACP Image Award Nominee.
Pushcart Nominee. 4x Individual World Poetry
Slam Champion.
Ironically enough, Mic Ting s Novelty is familiar and not new in the best way possible. With the first read, it felt like I was reading my favorite book. How Ting sheds his identity, experience, and himself, is work that is worthy of being lived through vicariously given his A-1 writing.
-
Emanuelee Outspoken Bean , Houston Poet
Laureate

vi
The views and opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of Gatekeeper Press. Gatekeeper Press is not to be held responsible for and expressly disclaims responsibility of the content herein.
Published by Gatekeeper Press
2167 Stringtown Rd, Suite 109
Columbus, OH 43123-2989
www.GatekeeperPress.com
Copyright 2021 by Michael Ting
All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
The cover design, typesetting, and editorial work for this book are entirely the product of the author. Gatekeeper Press did not participate in and is not responsible for any aspect of these elements.
Cover art and illustrations by Alejandra Germann.
ISBN (paperback): 9781662920981
eISBN: 9781662920998

ix
From the moment I was born,
I was speaking.
Or at least, that s the way my mother
tells the story.
She d return home from work to find me,
all eager mouthed and wide eyed.
Without a single coherent word,
I would tell her all about my day.
You couldn t wait to share your story
even when none of it made any sense.
Here I am again. Attempting to tell my story, knowing that I
don t have the language to do any of this justice. This impossible
endeavor. My reasoning the unreasonable.
There are truths buried in these lines, but as I will not be here to
guide you, you will be charged with discovering your own.
Finding meaning where there is and isn t. In this way, you
will help shape my identity.
x
As it goes, there are three versions of us. The version we see of
ourselves; the version that others see; and the truth nobody sees
at all. So you see, you were always part of this equation, weren t
you?
And you thought you were just going to sit here
and read me like a book. Like a finished chapter.
Something you could put down
when you re finished.
I apologize for springing this on you,
but I hope you partake in this.
As I need you,
as I ve needed you my whole life,
as we need each other now.
Let's begin.
xi
Contents
I.
Novelty
3
White Strips
6
Alt-Facts
8
Odds
14
Starseeker
15
Bright White Light
20
Gave up on the world today
21
II.
Wontons
24
Binge
28
Anime Eyes
31
Gemini
32
Noodles
37
Gratitude
45
xii
III.
Story of Me
49
Rage
51
Cathedral
54
Physical Therapy
61
Hey Siri
62
Train Tracks
67
Geometry
69
IV.
White and Blue: A Love Story
73
Coded Language
81
Final Form
88
Imperfect tools
93
Who am I?
99
Inhale
103
My Bibliography
108
Acknowledgements
110
I was a part of the country, yet apart from it.
- Grace Lee-Boggs
I dream. Sometimes I think that s the only right thing to do.
- Haruki Murakami
2
I.
Novelty noun.
nov el ty | \ n -v l-t
Definition of novelty
1
a
: of a kind not seen before; fresh; new
3
Novelty
My mother once told me
that back in China,
they d see me as a novelty .
A Chinese man
without a Chinese tongue,
an Asian face
with a White man s voice.
She speaks with the subtlety
of a bull
shoplifting
in a china shop.
Careful
to not arouse suspicion
at her theft.
Unaware
of how my face
is a porcelain plate
cracking
4
at the sound
of her certainty.
She says this
like someone
who hears of death
on the tv
and smiles
when delivering the news.
Did you know _____ died today?
Yes, mother.
I did.
And somewhere,
a crack
is beginning to show
its teeth.
5
6
White Strips
So the other day, I m over at my grandma s house, when
she turns to me with a slight frown and asks, Michael, n
de y ch h n hu ng, w ish me? Now, I can t understand
everything my Abu says, but I know when she s talking shit .
She says to me, Michael, your teeth are so yellow, why? I
smile and tell her that I don t know, but if there s anyone
who s gonna make me feel self-conscious about myself, it s
my grandmother, so I did what any good, conforming,
commercial watching, concerned American citizen would
do.
I went and bought some Crest White Strips.
I was eager to try these miracles of modern dentistry.
Woke up expecting a silver screen smile. To my
disappointment, they looked... exactly the same . So I waited.
After the second day, I started noticing the pain. Pushed
through what must surely be a phase; the adhesive had
started to wear my gums raw. On the seventh day, I run my
finger over left incisor and feel it sway in its socket,
wincing, as I realize my very roots are starting to come
unhinged , and I wonder