In Such Hard Times: The Poetry of Wei Ying-wu
Copper Canyon Press (2009)
Last July I blogged about Hinton’s fine translation of Classical Chinese Poetry. While enjoying that book, I stumbled upon a poet I haven’t read much of, Wei Ying-wu. I tried to find a collection of his poems and couldn’t.
Soon after the very fine publisher, Copper Canyon Press, announced a new edition of his work, translated by my favorite translator, the respected Red Pine.
Wei Ying-wu (731-791) was known for his clear, transparent, serene style, a poet’s poet. With plainness he draws the reader into a setting and a mood focusing on seclusion and the ordinary: the feeling of emptiness and enlightenment. Living a life of simplicity, he fashioned his poetic style. By reflecting his sensibility, he achieved desired effects without waste. His clarity of description produces a calming effect on the reader. Being not interested in “the literary world,” his poetry was not written to impress people.
A favorite poem I first read Sept. 6, 2009, sitting on my porch after a day’s work:
Hearing a Flute on the River After Seeing Off Censor Lu
Seeing you off over cups of wine
in the distance I heard a flute on the river
spending the night alone is sad enough
without hearing it again in my quarters
With great pleasure I spent months reading Wei and Pine. It’s transcending each day to spend a little time being touched by great poets.
“Wei Ying-wu is not only one of China’s great poets, he is one of the world’s great poets.” -Red Pine
Bill Porter writes books of poetry under his own name, yet he translates as Red Pine. Many thanks for your fine work, a gift to us all.
Earlier Blogs:
The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain
Clouds Should Know Me By Now: Buddhist Poet Monks of China
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