Cheng Sait Chia (1940–1981) was a Chinese-Canadian poet whose work was only ever published posthumously. Her only published work is a 75-page book titled ''Turned Clay'', released through Fiddlehead Poetry Books in 1981 after Chia's death. Her poetry has not been featured in any collections or

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thus far.

Life and poetry

Cheng Sait Chia, a

Chinese immigrant Waves of Chinese emigration have happened throughout history. They include the emigration to Southeast Asia beginning from the 10th century during the Tang Dynasty, to the Americas during the 19th century, particularly during the California g ...

who settled on the east coast of Canada, was born in Singapore in 1940 to Siow Peck Liong and Teh Kim Heo. Her husband, born in 1943, was Tzu Tit. She died of cancer at the age of 41 and was buried in the William Black Cemetery of Halifax, Nova Scotia. ''Turned Clay'' was released that same year, 1981, following Chia's death. Poet, essayist, and University of Toronto Canadian literature professor George Elliott Clarke is mentioned by ''

Arc Poetry Magazine ''Arc Poetry Magazine'' is a triannual literary magazine established in 1978, publishing poetry and prose about poetry. History ''Arc'' was started in 1978 by Carleton University professors Christopher Levenson, Michael Gnarowski and Tom Henigh ...

'' as the one who "rediscovered" Chia's poetry. He noted that "her work, though infused by her illness with the theme of death, exhibits an exhilarating refusal of luxury, heroic

stoicism Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century Common Era, BCE. It is a philosophy of personal virtue ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world, asser ...

, and a stern and bracing morbidity." A recurring theme in Chia's writing is death, which can be attributed to her terminal illness serving as a constant reminder that her own end was near.

Rediscovering Chia

In the summer of 2007, ''

'' released a special issue dedicated to "lost and neglected Canadian poets of the past," uncovering several individuals whose work was either forgotten or relatively unknown. Cheng Sait Chia was one of the latter, as her poetry had not been published till after her death. Others recognized in this special issue include Avi Boxer, Paul Potts, Audrey Alexander Brown,

Thomas D'Arcy McGee Thomas D'Arcy McGee (13 April 18257 April 1868) was an Irish-Canadian politician, Catholic spokesman, journalist, poet, and a Father of Canadian Confederation. The young McGee was an Irish Catholic who opposed British rule in Ireland, and w ...

, and Joseph Howe, in addition to more lost-and-found poets and writers. She has been described as a

Maritimer The Maritimes, also called the Maritime provinces, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The Maritimes had a population of 1,899,324 in 2021, which makes up 5.1% ...

imagist poet and likened to

John Thompson John Thompson may refer to: Academics * J. A. Thompson (1913–2002), Australian biblical scholar * John D. Thompson (1917–1992), nurse and professor at the Yale School of Public Health * John G. Thompson (born 1932), American mathematician * ...

. Guy Dixon, writer for ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' wrote, "She might be seen as a leading light if she were read more widely."

Life and poetry

Rediscovering Chia

References

Further reading