By Elizabeth Vongsaravanh
An overseas member of WiPS since 2010, I have never forgotten the feeling that Imprint gave me on first seeing my poetry in print. Sometimes when I take the creative process for granted, or simply have nothing to say for a while, recalling that moment is grounding and provides me with perspective. Our individual voices, our experiences, our imagination and openness are unique and much needed in this world of rapid change. We are the little people, saving the true meaning of words to remind generations to come of the importance of the genuine depth of emotion in all of us.
The Imprint launch is a highlight in the WiPS calendar for its members, its growing number of contributors and the Hong Kong literary scene. A big thank you is owed to the committee: Carol Dyer, Gillian Kew, Rinkoo Ramchandani, Holly Sykes and Polly Yu, for making this year’s event run so smoothly and for generating such warmth and enjoyment for everyone.
As one of the evening’s readers, I was anxious and had stepped outside to calm my nerves as everyone else seemed so well prepared! But I didn’t need to have done this. The moment I returned and pushed open the door, I felt a wave of relief. Ritu Hemnani, the evening’s MC, was welcoming the audience with her charm and enthusiastic gusto and inviting the readers one by one to share their stories – their offerings to the Imprint muse!
Bonny Wong, co-chair of this year’s HKILF, opened the programme graciously underlining the importance of WiPS’ long-standing involvement with the literary festival and of the anthology as a platform for women’s voices.
The readings then began with Natalie Wong and “Bridge Troll”, her enigma set in a Macau casino; this was followed by Lisa Glasgow with “Banana”, describing a probing exchange with a therapist. Deborah Mannas was next with her moving poem, “We Used to Love”; while Sadie Kaye provoked plenty of laughter with her incisively humorous “A Sting in the Tail”. A literary quiz followed between impromptu groups generating much hushed camaraderie, brain activity – and, with luck, recalled authors and titles. The second group of readings included Gargi Banerjee’s “The Girl on the Train”, about a young girl escaping a forced marriage; and Irene Tsang’s story “The Waiting Hotel”, in which a young woman blurs the edges of fantasy and reality in her first hospitality job. I then recited my poem “Eternity”; and Jan Lee brought the readings to an end with “Andrew Wong’s Last Night at Chez Vingt”, a wistful recollection of Hong Kong’s good times. We think the Muse was pleased!
The mingling and conversation then continued over glasses of wine in the convivial surroundings of the FCC; Imprint 23 was being suitably sent into the world. And in homage to Maureen Tai’s inspired cover design, we close with these lines:
“Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children’s faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.”
Sara Teasdale