91st Birthday – Nellie Wong

Nellie at Ninety-One

By hoisanpoet | September 12, 2025December 11, 2025 by hoisanpoet

a poem by Robert Rubino and Terry Jacobs celebrating Nellie Wong’s 91st Birthday Nellie at Ninety-One Four years ago we didn’t knowNellie Wong. Didn’t know this writerof poetry lyrical and historicalgastronomical and familialwaterfalls of images falling upon the pageor pin-ball caroming in a voice steady strong. Didn’t know this fighterfor social justice — for workers and immigrantsfor feminism and for peacethis fighter against racism ageism capitalism. Didn’t know this connoisseurof food and music and movies.…

Nellie’s 91st Birthday

By hoisanpoet | September 12, 2025September 12, 2025 by hoisanpoet

Celebrating Nellie’s 91st birthday! #poetryblooms Ode to the big knife Ai aw in Hoisan-waBig blue scheme the slant and the sheenChopping in rhythm’s precisionDelivering lobster by hand shaped as its original formEloquent in chef’s handFeast for eyes and soulGargantuan yet minusculeHigh how high the culinary artsJust practice more practice, noKneeling but kowtowing of sortsLove for beauty of cadence’s song itsMarinade and dance andNo nullification becauseOperatives of beauteous realmPurity of practice thrums and humsQuintuplet of spirit…