Monsoon Poems
Author: Yin
Cover design and layout by Adrian Cheah
I had to lay out 45 poems within a 104-page book for a good friend, who pens under the pseudonym Yin. When I first received the draft, I could not put it down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting, stirring up a well of emotions. As I laid the last page down, I could only marvel at the depth of love Yin had for this late wife. I quickly grabbed my phone and congratulated him on an amazing book. I also told him that I would consider myself extremely lucky if I could love my wife as much as he loved his.
I love a good read, books that can take you on a journey where characters come to life. Yin has a flare for writing, using "down-to-earth" words to connect sincerely with his readers. His distinct local flair is evident in his penmanship.
I first collaborated with Yin when I was commissioned to design his book Postcards from a Foreign Country in 2008. The stories of both expatriates and locals are brought to life, portraying a time when people spoke more openly and honestly, exposing their bigotry and prejudices. I did the photography for the cover as well.
In 2010, we worked on another riveting book, Tin Man. Tin Man historically reflects upon the struggles of the early Chinese migrants in Perak and their current state of welfare.
In 2019, Yin and I collaborated on a corporate profile for Yayasan Ipoh with the theme, "Leaving No One Behind". Yayasan Ipoh rehabilitates the disabled so that they can become participating members of their community.
I enjoy working with Yin. There is never a dull moment and if I had to describe Yin, it has to be "cheow geh" (Hokkien for cheeky, jovial, a practical prankster with a flare for the melodrama, verbally of course yet never in his demeanour, which is rather an oxymoron – always cracking me up). He is great company, fascinating and extremely generous!
Yet, should you inquire of Yin to unveil his true self, he would softly confess to being a recluse, an introvert and a "humble" soul. He dresses the part too!
However, if you truly know him and have been to his splendid, chic abode adorned with a gorgeous art collection from around the world, the veil would gently lift. Yin is a man who appreciates art, poetry, books, music and the beauty of nature. He finds solace in life's modest treasures like good food, a sunrise and the soothing sound of the forest. Above all, he embraces life's myriad facets, both the virtuous and the flawed, the sublime and the unsightly. He is a candid judge of all he beholds, for honesty is his guiding creed, always calling a spade a spade. These fundamental principles of common decency flow through his writing.
I had to describe Yin, the man himself so that when you read Monsoon Poems, as you must, you will come to appreciate a courageous soul willing to bare his own, inviting you to search for the truth buried deep within yourself. Therein lies Yin's true power as an author.
The book's title is a stroke of brilliance, a reverberating echo of the emotional tempest concealed within its pages – indeed, a "monsoon" of feelings. Drawing inspiration from my profound admiration for Hokusai Katsushika, I decided to adopt the black and white woodblock printing style for the cover, aiming to create something powerfully charged with raw charisma. Sans any strong colours, I kept to only one prominent colour – Turner yellow, a solitary beacon amid the brewing storm. I also incorporated the imagery of a torrential downpour, reminiscent of the tears shed for a lost loved one, only to be illuminated by the warm glow of the title (as hope springs eternal). This luminous aura casts its ethereal glow upon the swiftly coursing river, poised to breach its banks. The concept for this cover design arrived almost instantaneously after I finished reading the manuscript. I found great pleasure in the creative process and I am glad that Yin must have leapt for joy within (although he refrained from commenting on the final design).
From the pages of Monsoon Poems, you will embark into the heart of human emotion, guided by Yin's courageous words. Get a copy today and make this book a cherished addition to your literary collection.
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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah
© All rights reserved
6 October 2023
To buy a copy or two, email the writer Yin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Table of Contents
Preface, xi
Every End a New Beginning, 1
The Rite of Passage, 2
Small Towns, 4
The Most Beautiful Bloom, 6
The Early Breakfast Show, 8
Ode to Solitude, 10
My Child, 12
Break Your Heart, 15
Step Into The Mist, 16
Wabi Sabi, 18
Gong Xi Fa Cai, 20
Be Kind To Yourself, 22
Roadside Flowers, 24
Roadside Flowers 2, 28
The Way Home, 30
In The Supermarket, 32
Love Me Now, 36
Tie Guan Yin, 37
The Loneliness of a Long-Distance Lover, 38
A Fool’s Errand, 43
The River, 44
The Clothesline, 46
What Price?, 48
Yamseng, 51
Drinking Tea, 52
Yasmin, 54
As The Light Dims, 57
Chiaroscuro, 60
I Miss You Not, 62
The Defiance of The Old, 64
Bian Lian, 66
Soliloquy, 68
Forgive, 70
Ronggeng Merdeka, 71
My Friend, 72
Omar Khayyam Revisited, 75
A Garden of Many Flowers, 76
The Little Things, 78
Give Till It’s Empty, 80
The House, 82
Nostalgia, 84
Thank You For Your WhatsApp, 86
The Last Note, 87
After Words, 90
A Thousand Words, 91
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Other books by Yin
Tin Man
East West Publishing, 2010
Postcards from a Foreign Country
East West Publishing, 2008
Out of the Tempurung
Edited by Fong Chin Wei and Yin Ee Kiong
East West Publishing, 2008
Yin’s Ronggeng was one of 86 stories selected from 10,000 submissions for Flash Fiction International (Short Stories From Around The World, Published by W.W. Norton, New York, 2015)
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Monsoon Poems
Yin
September 2023, Kinding Publishing Enterprise
Softcover. 13.5 cm x 18.8 cm, 104 pages
Language: English
Genre: Non-fiction, poems
ISBN 978-629-98641-0-3
Preface
“They are not long, the days of wine and roses” wrote Ernest Dowson. The brevity of life is such that youth quickly fades into old age – it creeps up on us. In the time between, love is won and lost, the triumphs and defeats, friendships old and new, expectations and disappointments – life.
If some poems touch on old age it is not a lament of the passing of youth but an acceptance of old age – a celebration even.
In some poems I have tried to draw attention to the folly of race and religion which divides us needlessly whether at home or elsewhere.
Poets do not flinch so it seems. I am not sure of that myself. It is not easy to be naked – baring all. Perhaps being indecently exposed will suffice for now.
Life is short so let us make much of time and “gather rosebuds while we may” (Herrick).
Monsoons are good times for introspection, reflection and perhaps even jotting down a line or two; apa mahu buat, hari hari hujan ...