Ariadne’s Notes: The World Poetry Café Radio Show with hosts Ariadne Sawyer and Neall Ryon , engineer Victor Schwartzman ; welcomed Kagan Goh the well known poet, filmmaker and author to the show on February 11, 1-2 pm on CRFO, 100.5 FM.
It was a fascinating show about Kagan’s work and about his father’s friendship with the musician David Bowie who recently passed away but may be reunited with him in another dimension. Another focus was on the mistreatment of poets, writers and dissidents at that time and which seems to be history repeating itself over and over again. A must listen show! CLICK HERE!
Kagan Goh was born in Singapore in 1969. After years of traveling, he emigrated with his family to Canada in 1986 and now resides in Vancouver. Kagan is a spoken word poet, published author, playwright and mental health activist. In 2012, Select Books in Singapore published his first book Who Let In the Sky? Kagan is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a number of releases including the award-winning Mind Fuck (1996) and Stolen Memories (2012). His films have been broadcast on national television and gained entry into respected film festivals across Canada.
NAÏVE
I’m no stranger to sorrow but I’m one of the happiest people I know.
People think I’m naïve because I wear my heart on my sleeve.
Because I am so buoyant with joy they treat me like a boy.
Little do they know my heart is cast in the kilns of pain.
Not even God can break me. I’m already broken.
It’s through the cracks my truth is spoken.
I have more faith than a thousand religions.
Love is the only thing I really believe in.
Like my fellow mental health survivors I am a veteran.
I have my battle scars. I do not hide them.
Neither do I parade them for I am no victim.
Won’t join the ticker tape parade.
No thanks I don’t need your angst.
Don’t want to dwell on the time I spent in hell.
I’d much rather reminisce on this world of bliss,
give misery a miss to kiss the lips of life.
I’m gonna marry her and make her my wife.
And if you think pain and suffering makes you deep,
I’d rather wade in the shallow waters of happiness
than drown in the depths of your despair,
cuz buddy believe it or not I’ve been there.
I’m done doing time in my own mind.
Now I’m digging this life like a gold mine.
And I found there’s nothing more profound than joy.
If suffering makes me a man, I’d rather be a boy
with an irrepressible joy not even God almighty can destroy.
Kagan Goh (C)
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