"This is ethnographic poetry. It is lush with the languages and imagery of Pohnpei and Micronesia. Rich with the personalities of the poet and her people. Yet there is also something light and bare about this writing. Kihleng's word artistry emulates the distinctive skirt (urohs) referred to in the title of her first collection--lush with colour and rich with applique and stitching, but not cloying to the wearer. What an exciting new contribution to Pacific literature!"

Teresia Teaiwa

 $12.00, available on our online store.

Read a poem from this collection here. 

This is a unique collection of poetry by a unique poet. It is Kihleng's first collection; it is also the first collection of poetry in English by a Pohnpeian poet. But, more importantly, her voice is a new fusion of English and Pohnpeian, the result of her upbringing and life in Pohnpei, Guam, Hawaii, and the USA. Her poetry is refreshingly innovative and compelling, a new way of seeing ourselves in our islands, an important and influential addition to our literature.

Albert Wendt, Author of The Mango’s Kiss, Ola, Book of the Black Star and Leaves of the Banyan Tree

At times a Human Rights Watch labor report refashioned in free verse, at others a deft and dynamic poetic illustration that the personal remains the political, Emelihter Kihleng’s My Urohs interrogates the “everyday” in this era of ongoing war and the expansion of American empire, leaving no proverbial or actual stone unturned (not even Destiny Fulfilled!). It is a must-read first book from a must-read new author.

Mark Nowak, author of Shut Up Shut Down and editor of XCP: Cross Cultural Poetics

"My Urohs is both disturbing and haunting, illuminating and tender. Emelihter's cultural skirt is woven from the violent threads of post-colonialism, laced with patches of Island humour and colored by a deep love of her people and the land. A remarkable debut and a powerful addition to Pacific Literature."

Sia Figiel

 

Emelihter Kihleng was born on Guam, and has spent much of 
her life moving back and forth between her native island of 
Pohnpei, Hawaiʻi (Honolulu) and Guam. She has an MA in English, Creative Writing from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and spent the past year living and teaching ESL in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. She currently resides on Guam.