THE POEM BOOK

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CHINESE VERSE
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“The Journal of 21st Century Chinese Poetry 《廿一世纪中国诗歌》was founded with the intention of introducing modern Chinese poetry to readers worldwide. Modern Chinese poetry was born from the broader intellectual movement that took place in China around 1917-1921, known as the May-Fourth Movement; for the first time in history, vernacular Chinese was accepted as a legitimate poetic voice. This poetic movement hasn't stopped evolving since then but only accelerated recently because of the easy exchange of styles and ideas over cyberspace. This is an eye-opening, exciting and even confounding experience for both the poets and the readers. The editor-and-translator team of 21st Century Chinese Poetry selects some of the best poems written in Chinese by today's poets from all geographic areas.” - The Journal of 21st Century Chinese Poetry

LI LI

Essential Matters

Let me count a few things that I can’t do without.

In the past there were letters, so envelopes and post offices were essential.

Then, there must be doves, a cool breeze, reveries,

and a backdrop of dusk on my way to the post office.

A place to say farewell was essential when it's time to leave home;

there was a ticket in my hand, him at the windy train station,

tears in our eyes, and the satisfaction

running down my body as I turned around.

Reaching middle-age, children nearby and healthy parents are essential,

so are the lovely words on the pages I turn,

and the scents of the fruits that he brought to the room.

Finally, the peach flowers that bloom overnight,

and the lovely apparitions under the trees--

they are my folks who departed the world too early.

IN THE CHINESE:

文 /离 离
重要的事情

一直以为，我这一生都是不可缺少的

以前习惯写信，信封和邮局是必不可少的

寄信的途中，鸽子带来清凉和梦想

被它们惊动的黄昏是不可少的

离家时远方的存在是必然的

车票，站台和他在风里

眼角一定是湿润的，我微微转过的

身子是幸福的一种

人到中年，儿女绕膝，父母健在是让人羡慕的

我在灯下翻书，爱迷人的文字也爱

他递来的果子的清香

爱村里一夜间全开的桃花和

花下的鬼，如果他们身怀香气

就是我短命的亲人

_________

TPB’s notes: from the journal: 21st Century Chinese Poetry, No. 7 : “Ms. Li Li was born in Gansu Province, gateway to the Silk Road. Her poems and essays have appeared in various literary journals in China. She has won national and regional literary awards: The 7th Annual Dunhuang Literary Award and The 3rd Yellow River Literary Award. She has published two books of poems: The Olden Sky and Blue. Li Li's poems are included in Issue No. 7.” Translations provided by the journal.

CHILECHUAN

A Carved Wooden Chair

Not a trace of sky, earth, or ax.....

they have no effect on it anymore.

All the faults were smoothed out and polished,

now it looks like a timeless flower.

Someone separated it

from many other wooden chairs.

It sits alone, like the quietest heart

that yields to fate too often: lonely, powerless,

being sanded down again and again.

An antique, with countless old cuts,

it's no longer a chair.

Only time comes to rest on it,

and no one else

dares do the same.

IN THE CHINESE:

文 /敕勒川
雕花的木椅

似乎天空、大地和斧头……已与它

无关，所有的伤口

都被抹平，抛光，幻化成了

永恒的花朵——

一把雕花的木椅，被人

从众多的木椅中分离出来，安静得

不能再安静，像一颗

过分安于命运的心：孤独，无奈……被一粒尘埃

反复敲打——

太古老了，那些疼痛……一把雕花的木椅

已不再是一把木椅，除了时光

已没有人敢

轻易

落座……

__________

TPB’s notes: from the journal: 21st Century Chinese Poetry, No. 7: “Chilechuan (pen name of Wang Jianjun) was born in 1967 in Inner Mongolia. An editor for Our Generation, a popular magazine for the youth of Inner Mongolia. He once said: a poet is a fire bird that flaps his wings to light a fire on everything it touches, even snow and ice. His poems have appeared in various literary journals in China. He has published a book of poetry: A Carved Wooden Chair". Translations provided by the journal.

REN XIANQING

Waiting for a train in the land of poetry

I'm waiting for a train in the land of poetry,

waiting in hope for its clanging sounds and forceful roaring past!

Let its display of great momentum shock me and traverse me.

As if eager for a grand celebration to approach, I'm the very first

to hear my own thumping heart.

With the classics open, thoughts of love growing, and my bones elongating,

the train speeds up, laden with flowers—-fresh, vivid, and profuse.

Thereupon, who cares if I'm driven to join the Liangshan rebels by a pile of words?

I don’t mind that I grow melons in empty spaces but reap beans;

I don’t mind being misread by you or these preposterous times.

IN THE CHINESE:

文 / 任先青

等待诗里的火车

我在等待诗里的一列火车

等待它 铿锵的足音 凌厉的啸呼

大气磅礴 震撼我 穿越我

仿佛等待一次盛大庆典 我率先

听到自己嘭嘭的心跳

经典打开 情思渐盛 骨骼拔节

鲜活 饱和 火车满载花朵疾驶而来……

于斯 我已不在乎被一摞词语逼上梁山

不在乎 空格地里种瓜得豆

不在乎 被你和尖刻的生活 误读

_________

TPB’s notes: from the journal: 21st Century Chinese Poetry, No. 1: “Mr. Ren was born in Shandong Province in 1943. He graduated from the Chinese Department of Qufu Normal University. He is a member of the Writers’ Union of China. He has published two collections of poems: The Heart With No Boundaries, The Heart-Shape Leaves, and Selected Poems by Ren Xianqing(Bilingual). Ren Xianqing's poems are included in Issues Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 13..” Translations provided by the journal.