Beautiful Friend

GOH POH SENG

My beloved friend Poh Seng died yesterday. He was a wonderful poet, doctor, husband, father and friend. Our friendship goes back to 1988 when I returned home from Law School. My husband brought him to our house. He had gotten Al's name from a writer in Vancouver. Poh Seng had just moved to Cow Head from Vancouver and earlier from Singapore. His wife and family had not yet joined him. When they did, our families became friends. They had four sons and we had two daughters.
We often visited them in Cow Head. We would forage for food, and prepare the most fabulous meals of fresh mussels,lobster, trout and what ever else we found. Our times together were filled with art, great conversation and merriment.
They returned to Vancouver to live a year or so after we met them. We stayed in touch by phone and letters. When my eldest daughter married they returned for her wedding . They rekindled their love for Newfoundland. And within not too many years they had bought a summer home in a little village around the bay. For many years they returned to the Island in late spring and stay until mid October. They were much beloved by everyone in the small close knit communtiiy.
They hosted many parties and poetry readings throughout the summer. Poh Seng turned an old garage into a wonderful studio. Margaret collected rocks and painted wonderful pictures.
Then Poh Seng was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He didn't let that slow him down. He still foraged for mushrooms and combed the beach everyday. He and Margaret never had a car, but managed to take wonderful trips to places like Burgeo and the Great Northern Peninsula.
They were an amazing couple. Margaret was his editor. She typed out his manuscripts and help him look for publishers. He was a prolific and very discliplined writer with enormous talent. He was a modest man, a gentle man and a true friend. I am going to miss you my dearest.