Eileen Chong
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eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Eileen Chong
@eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
350 followers 280 following 310 posts
Poet. Author of 11 books, most recently
🌸 We Speak of Flowers (UQP, 2025) 🌸
eileenchong.com.au (she/her) 🍉
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eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Eileen Chong @eileenchongpoet.bsky.social · Feb 17
She’s here! Book number 10. A poem for my ancestors in 101 fragments to be read in any order. A dreaming. An offering. ✨

www.uqp.com.au/books/we-spe...
We Speak of Flowers
From award-winning poet Eileen Chong comes a dazzling book-length poem, comprising 101 interconnected fragments that can be read in any order, inviting the reader to construct multiple interpretations.
www.uqp.com.au
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
@brocklesnitch.bsky.social wrote this and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it and yes it was very funny

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It soothes my bitter heart to know that no matter how much money Elon Musk has, he will never, ever be funny | Rebecca Shaw
What the Tesla tycoon wants his billions can’t buy: being able to get a true laugh
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
catrionamp.bsky.social
What’s this? Yet more research concluding that robust public investment in the arts yields economic benefits?

A great outcome for Ireland, and a rebuke to all those tired cliches about freeloading artists sapping the resources of the state.

But also, art enriches us all, economic benefits or no.
mikeachim.bsky.social Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · Oct 6
Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...
Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."
October 7, 2025 at 4:14 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
It’s been amazing sweetie 🫶🏼
Eileen Chong is wearing a cotton qipao in a black and white flower pattern and holding up a sign with her name in English and Chinese. She has taken a selfie. Eileen Chong is taking a photo of her reflection in a round mirror. It shows her in a cotton qipao in a pattern of black and white flowers. She is wearing four brooches that spell out the word POET. A photo of Eileen Chong wearing black and white Mary Janes. The photo shows only her calves and feet and part of her dress.
October 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
I’ve been collecting jade for over 30 years, so to see this collection in the Shanghai History Museum is a culmination of many long-held dreams.
A photograph of Eileen Chong standing in front of a sign that says Chinese Jade An exquisitely carved piece of nephrite jade depicting a pavilion at the base of a mountain Another exquisitely carved piece of nephrite jade depicting a gathering of eight members of the literati in a mountain setting A piece of nephrite jade carved in an open work manner, depicting flowers and a dragon
October 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Such a joy to read poetry to students at the Shanghai Community International School today 🌟
A photograph of the exterior of two buildings of the Shanghai community international school A photograph of a row of different countries’ flags outside a school office A photograph of Eileen Chong sitting on a chair in front of a class of students A selfie of Eileen Chong holding up a Little Miss Giggles book titled 笑呵呵小姐
October 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
This city—this magic city—✨
An exterior shot of the China pavilion for the Expo which has now been repurposed for the China Art Museum An interior shot of three immense Buddha statues at Jing’An temple. There is a stunning dharma wheel embedded in the ceiling A shot of a pavilion in a Chinese garden as seen through the entrance to a rockery A photograph of the skyline of the Bund in Shanghai at night with the buildings all lit up.
October 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
antonhur.com
“the nobel can’t possibly award an Asian lady after it awarded an Asian lady last year”

and ofc they’re kind of right? it just tells you what kind of prize it is
October 6, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
ayoub.bsky.social
Pay attention to the language that will be used by much of the media.

The Global Sumud Flotilla never entered Israeli waters.

They are in international waters attempting to reach Palestinian waters.

Israel is once again breaking international law
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Just me, the poet Eileen Chong, writing poems in a cafe in the building where the novelist Eileen Chang lived 😱😱😱
The exterior of an apartment block built in a 1930s on a street in Shanghai China A bronze plaque detailing the life and work of the novelist Eileen Chang A table with chairs next to an oil painting A photograph of Eileen Chong sitting at a desk in the Eileen Chang Cafe. She is smiling at the camera her laptop is open in front of her.
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
davidho.bsky.social
I hate it when people compare the amount of heat the ocean has absorbed to the power of atomic bombs dropped on Japan. It’s gruesome and not relatable. As my Japanese PhD student said when he heard the comparison, “It’s not a good memory for us.”
September 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
aunz.theconversation.com
New research considers the true value of Meanjin, using publicly available data. The journal has trained generations of Australian writers and editors.
What is the value of Meanjin? We’ve done some calcuations – and it’s not about money
theconversation.com
September 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Beautiful Huangyan in Taizhou, Zhejiang
A photo of a modern city from the point of view of a small boat on a river. A photo of a footbridge across a river. There is a mother and daughter by the water fishing.
September 22, 2025 at 10:30 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
‘Muslim women in particular face “the rap” of these incidents. It is well-documented that Muslim women are overwhelmingly targeted in Islamophobic attacks.’

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se...
‘I’d rather be bored than in danger’: Muslim women change how they behave in public because of racist attacks in Australia
Islamophobia Register Australia data shows women and girls are subject to 75% of reported incidents. These are some of their stories
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:35 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Shanghai has my heart because the people have my heart. 💗 with the esteemed writers Ms. Yin Huifen and Mr. Lou Yaofu, aka my new mum and dad, in Jiading
Eileen Chong is posing for a photograph with a beautiful older woman and a cute older man. They are standing in front of a bookshelf filled with their books. A photograph of a canal with trees on either side there is a small boat on the right near some steps and a man is sitting on the boat, turned around to look at the camera
September 20, 2025 at 4:54 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Stylish men of Shanghai 😍😍😍
An old man in traditional Chinese jacket and pants is holding a paper fan. He is also wearing a red fedora. He looks very stylish An older gentleman seated on a chair at a cafe a plaid flat cap, a striped shirt, plain trousers, and very cool shoes. He is also wearing a stylish watch a gold bracelet and he is smoking. An elderly gentleman standing in he is wearing a a khaki beret that matches his khaki pants, a blue shirt and a silk scarf knotted around his neck, brown loafers and a black belt with an interesting buckle. A middle-aged gentleman seated at a cafe he is wearing a short sleeve shirt printed with a very interesting pattern of stripes colours and dots. He is also wearing a pair of seersucker shorts, black loafers and he is holding a pipe. He is also wearing vintage looking round lensed sunglasses.
September 19, 2025 at 11:47 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
@yilinwriter.bsky.social and I have been friends online for 5 years. We finally got to meet in person this week in the magical city of Shanghai. Here we are in the garden of the Lu Xun museum reading poetry together. 💕
Eileen Chong the Australian poet and Yilin Wang the Canadian translator are sitting on a bench in a garden. Yilin is holding up a copy of her book, The Lantern and the Night Moths.
September 14, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
callmesipo.bsky.social
A few pictures from the rally against @mupublishing.bsky.social for their disgraceful axing of Meanjin - permanent shame on those involved in the decision. Melbourne Uni once again committing cultural arson.

Thanks to @beneltham.bsky.social for bringing everyone together
September 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Shanghai, city of cats 😍😍😍
A black and white tuxedo cat lying on the ground. It is very cute A white cat in a bookshop. Eileen holding a tabby cat and taking a selfie Eileen holding a large tabby and white cat and taking a selfie
September 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
beneltham.bsky.social
RALLY TO SAVE MEANJIN

Thursday 11 Sep 9am
Outside the Melbourne University Publishing office, 715 Swanston St, Carlton.

A number of Australian writers and editors will speak in support of this vital cultural institution
September 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Eating my paternal grandmother’s favourite fruit in the land of her birth. 🫶🏼
A plate on which small persimmons are arranged in a pyramid.
September 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
joannechocolat.bsky.social
My grandfather used to say: “Wasps get mean in autumn because they know their time is nearly done.” Certain people are like that, too…
September 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
lindsaynicolle.bsky.social
I crocheted Patti Smith’s Horses cover
A crocheted Patti smith Patti smith from Horses
September 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Eileen Chong
nadinejcohen.bsky.social
“It reminds me of a piece I once wrote”… cool, Sharon, no one cares
September 8, 2025 at 1:22 AM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Not one, but three people asked me for directions today. That’s how much I fit in on these streets. I actually love it.
September 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
eileenchongpoet.bsky.social
Shanghai Writing Program 2025 officially opened yesterday. So happy to be here in the land of my ancestors sharing my poetry and meeting other writers. 💕
September 4, 2025 at 11:38 PM