One of the pleasures of being Louisiana Poet Laureate is the opportunity to meet so many different poets. Daniel Lee is one of the amazing poets I have met—in addition to being a fantastic poet, he is also an active member of the literary community, and I have loved seeing him at events across the state. Daniel’s poem in this issue, “Wonder,” hints at the range and wit of his voice. His debut collection Anatomy of Want is a perfect companion for those clear blue, read outside on the patio days that come with spring. Enjoy! 

—Alison Pelegrin 

Wonder 

I had hoped to read the first draft 

of your novel of hushes – what sounds, 

which tones, were buried beneath 

in the shape of names, plot twists, punctuation. 

Was it set on the summits of the Cascadian 

wilderness? Did rain insist its dialogue 

with dirt? Likewise, your protagonist’s eyes 

with the solstice sky? And did that grey 

Volkswagen van in Iceland 

sneak its way from memory into fiction? 

You gave me a taste of your voice 

in a poem I’ve forgotten, Matt.  

Since the ink dried on your suicide, 

others—I’m sure—scoured your stanzas, 

contriving to solder every suggestion 

of suffering, each excavated burden 

like shrapnel 

to make form out of the unfathomable 

and unmoor that vicious wonder: 

what if what if 

you had only hoped harder.   

Daniel W.K. Lee (李華強) is a third-generation refugee, queer, Cantonese American born in Kuching, Malaysia. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at The New School, and his debut collection of poetry, Anatomy of Want, was published by QueerMojo/Rebel Satori Press. Daniel lives in New Orleans with his head-turning whippet Camden. Find out more about him at danielwklee.com, join his Patreon at patreon.com/danielwklee or follow him @strongplum on Instagram.