First Line has published many fine Chinese poets. Thanks editors’ all wonderful work, #6 is available to order online. This issue includes Anna Yin’s two new Chinese poems and two new translations, one for Dr. Armand Garnet Ruffo.
Former Mississauga Poet Laureate Anna Yin’s Haiku workshops will combine in-person walks and virtual writing workshops focusing on building creative and resilient communities. The first nature walk starts June 25, 2022 and the workshops run throughout the summer. Please check the detail and how to register.
Anna Yin was happy to be a guest speaker and a judge for Kimball Electronics’ Take a Haiku Hike Challenge. Here are the winners with Communications Director Scott Saalman’s announcement. Thank Anna, Scott and all the participants, for bringing about such an amazing event where new talents were discovered. Anna invites all interested to join our online haiku workshops in the summer. Your contributions will be considered for inclusion in our eBook in Oct.
Luo Fu (1928-2018), a great poet of modern Chinese poetry, was born in Hunan, China. In 1954, he founded the Epoch Poetry Quarterly with Zhang Mo and Ya Xian, and served as the chief editor for many years. He has authored 37 collections of poems, and his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Swedish and other languages.
洛夫印象 /Anna Yin
想象中的你，
还没有从 湖南那场大雪 走出，
那剪烛的夜谈，
清瘦地倒映在我的梦里。
我的思绪还停留在
金龙禅寺 的台阶上，
日暮，晚钟，
遥远的你
沉沉不语。
如何抓住
一把湿漉漉的钟声，
还有
半盆寂寞的月光。。。
岁月不停留地攀上
厚厚叠叠的诗句，
而镜中的你
不是白衣的侠客
和归隐的山人，
那一身掩映的枫红
在如洗的日子里。
于是我不断地说，
明年回去，
再遇—
湖南那场大雪。
Anna Yin will read her poem for Poet Luofu at the above event online on May 21.
More to share:
More about Luofu’s poetry and Anna Yin’s translation:
Yan Li (poet and artist) was born in Beijing in 1954. He started writing poetry in 1973 and painting in 1979. He was a member of the pioneering art group “Star Painting Club” and the literary group “Today” in Beijing in 1979, and held the first solo exhibition of pioneering art in China in 1984. In 1987, he founded the poetry journal “First Line New York” (which ceased publication in 2000) and resumed publication in New York in June 2020, where he continues to serve as editor-in-chief. He is the president of the Overseas Chinese Writers’ Association.
《艺术外滩》专栏现场 ∣ 严力： 首次与二十一世纪共进晚餐
Poems and Paintings by Yan Li (严力) & translations by Anna Yin (appeared on an art magazine in Shanghai)
To celebrate National Poetry Month & Asian Heritage Month, Anna Yin wrote 24 haiku that were inspired by Neville G. Poy & Vivienne Poy’s beautiful photography book: Precious Moments. Please check the video to find more about Poys’ wonderful book! Some of them will be used at Anna Yin’s school and community haiku workshop programs. Thanks Dr. Vivienne’s permission!
(1-12)
spring again…
magnolia trees
turn sky pink
*
cool morning air
along Muskoka trail
spider’s web shines
*
tapping from woodpeckers
sudden splash from the beaver
as hikers turn
*
loons’ calling
scattered diamonds on the lake
the sun rises
*
in Vivienne’s still pose
a red fox passing her—
a still rock
*
on the top of
the green glass lake
canoe gliding by
*
pause for new bud
squirrel in its praying pose
shutter clicks
*
unfurling
the red rose’s hues:
Neville’s exact lens
*
love-hate
fawn visiting
Poys pray flowers be spared
*
behind a green wall
children’s laughter
rises from gooseneck loosestrifes
*
horizontal rainbow…
whose brush splashes
this colorful scarf?
*
summer sunset
diving through swimming rings
mallard ducklings
(13-24)
heat waves
hovering over red crocosmia
hummingbirds whizz
*
pink water lily
mirroring herself…
full moon night
*
claiming their crab apples
mother bear and her cubs
up and down Poys’ trees
*
in fall winds
butterflies flit
among mums’ blooms
*
autumn lake view
by Poys’ cottage
free oil paintings from masters
*
floating in the wind
milkweed seeds…
someone’s love story?
*
ritual for life…
arranging dried peonies and hydrangeas
in hollowed logs
*
through bare branches
a pink moon rises
beyond the dusky ravine
*
fluffy snow
Vivienne, a child again…
the gentle touch of snowflakes
*
tracks in snow
mixed footprints
from un-invited visitors
*
Christmas party
outside the Poys’ cozy home
glittering ice crystal
*
up high the sunroom
blooming geraniums
and the family’s winter spirit
Anna Yin : 2022/04/30
Anna’s other two poems for Dr. Vivienne Poy:
Reading Vivienne Poy’s Passage to Promise Land (2013) and The Family Tree (2015)
Brief guide to haiku:
Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day! Celebrate by carrying a poem & sharing it with others throughout the day!
This year’s Poem In Your Pocket Collection features poetry by: Ashley Elizabeth Best, Jaclyn Piudik, Keith Inman, Maureen Hynes, Bänoo Zan, Angela Cen, Callista Markotich, Harry Posner, Mark Kim, Annick MacAskill, Amy LeBlanc, Frances Boyle, Anna Yin and Marlene Grand Maitre.
These poems are also available as audio recordings and a printable booklet. To print and share from your home, check out the 2022 Poem In Your Pocket Day Booklet from LCP.
Readings by Poet Laureates across Ontario in celebration of National Poetry Month.
Apr 21, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EDT Virtual on Zoom
Al Moritz – Toronto
Randell Adjei – Province of Ontario
Jessica Outram – Cobourg
Anna Yin – First Poet Laureate of Mississauga
Richard M. Grove – Brighton
Jason Heroux – Kingston
Richard-Yves Sitoski – Owen Sound
Victoria Butler – Barrie
Thomas Leduc – Sudbury
Albert Dumont – Ottawa (Anglophone)
Gilles Latour – Ottawa (Francophone)
Sarah Lewis – Peterborough
Alex-Andrei Ungurenasu – Windsor
Ayomide Bayowa – Current Poet Laureate of Mississauga
Former Poet Laureate Paul Edward Costa – Mississauga
https://www.crowdcast.io/e/app-online-piyp
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 7:00 to 8:15 pm EDT
Poem in Your Pocket Day at Atwater Poetry Project
To celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day/ La Journée du poème à porter, readings by poets Andrée Levesque Sioui, Anna Yin, and Bänoo Zan, with guest host Marcela Huerta.
In partnership with La poésie partout and the League of Canadian Poets.
George Elliott Clarke Presented a night of poetry, music and song by 5 fine poets and 2 wondrous musicians on April 6, 2022. Thanks Aurora Public Library, Ontario and The League of Canadian Poets
George Elliott Clarke l Poet Laureate (Toronto)
Giovanna Riccio l Poet, Co-Host (Toronto)
Louise Bernice Halfe l Parliamentary Poet Laureate (Regina)
Anna Yin l Chinese l Poet (Mississauga)
Boyd Warren Chubbs l Poet (St. John’s)
Astrid Brunner l Poet (Halifax)
Andrea Thompson l Poet (Toronto)
Juliet Palmer l Pianist (Toronto)
James Rolfe l Composer (Toronto)
James Morehead, Dublin’s poet laureate, has selected 26 poems by poets from USA and elsewhere including Anna Yin’s poem for City of Dublin Poetry Walk 2022 for their national poetry month celebration!
