Subscribe to Chrysalis at https://www.johnfiege.earth/
Show notes: https://www.johnfiege.earth/35-jennifer-huang-from-the-taiwan-cypress-in-alishan
Listen to Chrysalis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Captivate.
There is so much going on Jennifer Huang’s poem, “From the Taiwan Cypress in Alishan,” starting with how the words are laid out on the page, with a wide blank space between two columns. It makes me wonder whether I should read across the page or down one column and then the other. The poem works either way.
Jennifer takes on the persona of the Cypress tree itself, and the magic flows from there.
I’m John Fiege, and this is Chrysalis. You can subscribe at johnfiege.earth, where you will also find show notes and all episodes of the podcast, plus my writing, photographs, and films.
Listen on Spotify
Jennifer Huang was born in Maryland to Taiwanese immigrants and is the author of Return Flight, winner of the 2021 Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry from Milkweed Editions. Jennifer holds an MFA in poetry from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, and their poems have appeared in POETRY, The Rumpus, Narrative Magazine, and many other publications. Their other recognitions include The Academy of American Poets Prize, The Bain-Swiggett Poetry Prize, and the Brooklyn Poets Fellowship.
Listen on YouTube
This episode of Chrysalis is part of the Chrysalis Poets series. I spoke with Jennifer on October 5, 2022.
Here is Jennifer Huang reading their poem, “From the Taiwan Cypress in Alishan.”
Listen on Captivate
Notes and Media Recommendations
Credits
This episode was researched by Elena Cebulash, Lydia Montgomery, and Nina Bunn and edited by Sarah Westrich and Kathryn Fair. The podcast assistant is Domenica Klamm. Music is by Daniel Rodríguez Vivas. Mixing is by Morgan Honaker.
-----------
Subscribe at https://www.johnfiege.earth/
