bright sorrow
In his second book, Jonathan Chan presents poems written through the years of the pandemic and eruptions of war and strife. Each circles the notion of "bright sorrow", a spiritual state characterised by a profound mingling of joy and grief. These poems look to repentance, to suffering, and to the contradiction of extremities, each glistening at their core.
Landmark Books, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonathan Chan
Jonathan Chan is a writer and editor of poems and essays. Based in Singapore, he was educated at Cambridge and Yale Universities. His work has appeared in anthologies, journals, and magazines. He has an abiding interest in faith, identity, and creative expression. His first book of poems was going home.

