3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem.
Question 1
What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem?
I believe the three most crucial elements of a poem are the choice of imagery, the shift of person, and a distinctive style. First of all, as a boy who grew up in rural China, I have more room and more subtle things to explore and observe. Thus, I place great importance on selecting diverse imagery for my creations. (These might not be what others consider important, but as long as there are unique perspectives, even the most seemingly insignificant ones hold value.) When looking through ancient Chinese poetry anthologies, we can see that good combinations of imagery form poems that are passed down through the ages and are easy to recite. So, the choice of imagery is of particular significance.
Secondly, the shift of person acts as a medium connecting multiple images. A poem is a world in itself, filled with the manifestations of you, me, and others. The reader’s eyes follow the poet’s pen. Therefore, carefully consider
Question 2
What’s your best advice for writing poetry?
When writing poetry, never be impatient. Everyone can speak, and everyone has emotions. If you want readers to love your poems, you must invest more emotions and use more appealing words. Don’t be impatient just because you can’t figure out what to write. Maybe you can look down at the lawn, look up at the sky for a long time, or look at the pedestrians at eye level. Whether it’s when night falls or in the rain, these are all sources of your inspiration. Don’t miss out on good things due to impatience.
Don’t be impatient when you don’t know how to continue writing a poem. Apart from human thoughts, everything is limited. You can slow down and think it over, or introduce more images to make the poetic meaning flow smoothly.
Don’t be impatient when you don’t know how to end a poem. Poems come from the poet’s heart. They don’t have to be full of philosophy, nor do they have to be deeply affectionate. Just write down your emotions freely according to your heart.
Remember, write words because there are words in your heart. Don’t let poetry writing drag you down. Instead, let your true feelings flow freely!
Question 3
What’s the one poem that everyone should read today?
“GARDEN IN OCTOBER” by Italian poetess Lidia Chiarelli does sound like a remarkable poem. It seems to offer profound insights into the essence of life through the depiction of tiny dewdrops and allows for a free dialogue of the soul, which can indeed provide spiritual comfort to poets who are feeling uncertain. However, without the specific content of the poem and your translation, it’s a bit difficult to further elaborate on its charm and significance. If you could share more details about the poem or the translation, it would be great for a more in-depth discussion.
Eva Petropoulou Lianou’s Good night poem appears to be a captivating piece. It’s fascinating how she converges the night’s essence with the journey of life, creating a space where inspiration bounces merrily and emotions engage in a dance with the readers’ hearts. The message that one shouldn’t perceive life as unbearably painful and that dreams are within reach after persistent pursuit is truly inspiring. It would be wonderful if you could share the link so that more people could experience the beauty of this translated poem.
& a Poem
I wrote a song last year, “Spring Prayer of the Lone Tree,” recommended to everyone, this poem lamenting the beauty of youth from the perspective of a lonely tree was published in eight countries last year and won many awards:
Spring Prayer of the Lone Tree As though my palms alone could pray, Praying for songs to rise from the depths of gorges, As if I ponder for these songs, Contemplating the tune, simmered all winter, Traversing the fields, cleansed into symbols sacred, Dyed and woven into divine forms, Becoming algae that flows into the mortal world, Seeking a cradle of warmth to cling Finally stretching into the grass on the ridges, I pray ceaselessly, Until the evening sun encircles in a golden flood, I fix my gaze on the budding tips of my fingers, Immaculate yet so faint, Swaddled in the rings of years and withered wrinkles, I sigh, Oh youth, the most beautiful lament of humanity.
The e - version of Su Yun’s book can be viewed for free by clicking here.
I have published two Chinese poetry collections. However, today I would like to introduce my English poetry collection published in India. There aren’t many poems in it, but they represent the essence of my early creative works. It mainly focuses on all living things. In this collection, every object has a soul and exists with purpose. Here are some lines from the book:
1.My footsteps unlike droplets from branches Cannot create ripples in puddles My silhouette unlike roadside grass Cannot embrace the rain so wholly 2.Until I open my eyes, beginning to miss All that I left behind there Never to return but emerges hazily. 3.Perhaps a desiccated tree's millennia-old lament Swallows the mountain's verdant stoicism Perhaps a lone grassroots future ember Ignites the ground's seasonal unfurling 4.While the dwarf... Becomes forever the beast fed by his arrogance 5.It's not a lack of imagination Just an unawareness of the wonders in sight
About The Author
Su Yun , whose real name is Chen Ruizhe, he is a 17-year-old poet. He is the member of the Chinese Poetry Society. His works have been published in more than ten countries, including the poetry collections “Spreading All Things” and “Wise Language Philosophy” in China, and the poetry collection “WITH ECSTASY OF MUSING IN TRANQUILITY” in India. He won the 2024 Guido Gozzano Apple Orchard Award in Italy.
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