Poetry Unbound

Rita Wong — flush

Feb 19, 2024

Rita Wong, author of poetry collections, delves into the profound relationship between rain, water, and life. She explores the imagery of rain landing on various surfaces, the role of water in daily life, and the importance of clean water for environmental activism. The podcast analyzes Wong's poem 'flush' and a quote from Thomas Merton, celebrating the poetic beauty and vitality of rain.

15:59

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Rita Wong

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Quick takeaways

Rita Wong's poem 'Flush' celebrates water's ubiquity in daily life through vivid imagery.

Wong's poem emphasizes the interconnectedness between human health and the health of the planet.

Deep dives

The Necessity of Rain

In Rita Wong's poem 'Flush,' rain is portrayed as a necessary and constant source of life. The speaker emphasizes that rain is not an interruption but a vital component of our existence. The poem highlights how rain propels our water-based bodies and brings us together, as every living being depends on water. The imagery of rain landing on various surfaces and enveloping the city vividly portrays its ubiquity and importance.

The Awakening to the Reality of Water

01:09

Introduction

2min

Exploring the intricate relationship between rain, water, and human experience

3min

Exploring the Depths of Water and Environmental Responsibility

5min

Exploring the Poem Flush by Rita Wong alongside a Thomas Merton Quote

3min

A Poetic Ode to Rain and its Vitality

3min

The word “flush” is a verb, as in an activity that we do umpteen times a day. It’s also an adjective that conveys abundance. Fittingly, Rita Wong’s poem “flush” offers a praise song to water’s expansive and unceasing presence in our lives — from our toilets to our teacups, from inside our bodies to outside our buildings, and from our soil to our skies.

Rita Wong is the author of several poetry collections, including monkeypuzzle (Press Gang, 1998), forage (Nightwood Editions, 2007), and undercurrent (Nightwood Editions, 2015). Wong is an associate professor at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

We’re pleased to offer Rita Wong’s poem, and invite you to read Pádraig’s weekly Poetry Unbound Substack, read the Poetry Unbound book, or listen back to all our episodes.