An Elegy On Larry Kwong Poem by Gayathri Seetharam

An Elegy for Larry Kwong
-Gayathri B. Seetharam
This is a lament for the dead soul, Larry Kwong
He was the first Asian to become a NHL player
And this was the breaking of a racial barrier,
Although nicknamed the China Clipper
For his great speed on ice
His failing sin was also creeping flow on ice
For on his debut as a New York Rangers player
He rued the fact that he was given minimal playing time
During which he did nothing remarkable
The "Twin Paradox" in his case was that
Discrimination and being singled out as a Chinese player
Went hand in hand
But the puck had pluck as the stick which did tick
In the minor leagues,
He was also nicknamed King Kwong for his 5 foot 6 inches height
And I, for all immigrant parents, mourn the fact
That when given the chance
Larry Kwong did not produce in the NHL
But celebrate the fact that he made no error
If mediocrity is a sin
Then lack of mistakes is a win
Death at 94 years closed the chapter
On his sudden death in the NHL.

Acknowledgements:
1. An obituary by Tom Hawthorn in The Globe and Mail on March 21,2018.
2. Wikipedia