Today, I am honored to speak to you about WEI Yanlie’s remarkable bilingual collection, "遍地乡愁" (translated as "Nostalgia Everywhere"). This anthology is a tapestry of poetic reflections that intertwine themes of life, nature, and the profound spectrum of human emotions. Each poem within this collection offers a unique window into the intricate beauty and resilience of the world around us.
Let us begin with "Wolves." Here, Yanlie presents a scene that is both tranquil and mystical. The imagery of wolves arriving with the spring, painting the grassland with their brushes, evokes a sense of nature's persistent and vigilant presence. The silent, watchful eyes of the wolves at night symbolize an ever-present guardian, highlighting the unyielding and omnipresent spirit of nature.
In "Ankang," Yanlie beautifully portrays a serene night soaked in river water, likened to a dream. The poet captures a moment of tranquil beauty by scooping up half of the moon and hanging it on a branch to dry in the wind. This imagery speaks to the ephemeral nature of serenity and the fleeting yet precious moments of peace we encounter.
The capriciousness of spring is vividly depicted in "Spring Rain." Dark clouds are portrayed as cunning tricksters and the sky as a bluffer in a chess game at a critical juncture. This metaphor encapsulates the playful and elusive characteristics of spring, emphasizing the unpredictable dance of weather and life itself.
"Laba Festival" takes us back to the basics of human compassion through the simple act of savoring a bowl of porridge. By extracting nutrients from coarse grains and filtering out additives, Yanlie underscores the importance of returning to heartfelt values and appreciating nostalgia in its purest form.
"Temple of Heaven" delves into historical and spiritual reflection. The poet describes the departure of the emperor and his dynasty, leaving behind loess at a historical crossroad. This imagery underscores the timeless beauty and deep spiritual connection of the Temple of Heaven, a symbol of historical continuity and spiritual endurance.
"Night" offers a reflective journey through time. The sunset pressing a button symbolizes dreams that replicate past events, while the moon, likened to a new stamp, and the wind riding an old bicycle, contribute to a scene filled with nostalgia and reflection.
In "Blessing," Yanlie metaphorically cleanses and renews cherished words such as happiness, auspiciousness, and health. These words, compared to firewood, symbolize the continuity and warmth of blessings that sustain us through life's journey.
The poem "Ginkgo" stands as a testament to resilience and endurance. The ginkgo tree, surviving through famine, drought, and war, symbolizes stoic perseverance and silent wisdom. It serves as a metaphor for enduring strength amidst the adversities of life.
"Red Willow" paints a picture of isolation and desolation. The lone figure standing at dusk in the Gobi Desert highlights the resilience required to endure life's harsh realities, embodying a profound sense of solitude and endurance.
"Returning Home" evokes the powerful imagery of hearts as arrows aimed at the homeland. This poem captures the restless and inevitable pull towards one's roots, emphasizing the cycle of reunion and separation inherent in the human experience.
Lastly, "The Old Man" reflects on the passage of time and the inevitable process of aging. The metaphor of sunlight dragged out of an old house, squatting at a wall corner, symbolizes the drained vitality and the reflection on one’s future self.
Each poem in WEI Yanlie’s collection intricately weaves together themes of nature, historical continuity, and profound human emotions. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Yanlie invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, emphasizing the timeless beauty and resilience inherent in the world around us.
Thank you.
asmine maha（摩洛哥）
The poem "遍地乡愁" is a bilingual collection by WEI Yanlie that reflects on diverse themes encompassing life, nature, and human emotions. Here is a precise summary of the key poems in the collection:
Wolves
The poem "Wolves" presents a tranquil yet mystical scene where the arrival of spring and the melting snow are depicted as wolves painting the grassland with their brushes. The imagery of wolves, along with the silent, watchful eyes at night, symbolizes nature’s persistent and vigilant presence.
Ankang
"Ankang" portrays a beautiful night soaked in the river water, likened to a dream. The poet scoops up half of the moon and hangs it on a branch, allowing the wind to dry it gradually. This imagery reflects a moment of serene beauty and tranquility.
Spring Rain
In "Spring Rain," the poet captures the capricious nature of spring weather, comparing dark clouds to cunning tricksters and the sky to a bluffer. The metaphor of a chess game reaching a critical juncture but lacking resolution highlights the playful and elusive characteristics of the season.
Laba Festival
"Laba Festival" describes the need for a bowl of porridge to awaken humanity’s compassion, extracting nutrients from coarse grains and filtering out additives. This simple, traditional meal symbolizes a return to basic, heartfelt values and the savoring of nostalgia.
Temple of Heaven
"Temple of Heaven" reflects on the historical and spiritual significance of the Temple of Heaven. The poet describes the departure of the emperor and his dynasty, leaving behind loess at a historical crossroad. This imagery emphasizes the temple's timeless beauty and its deep spiritual connection.
Night
"Night" illustrates the evening as a time for reflecting on past events. The sunset pressing a button symbolizes dreams duplicating the past over and over. The moon, likened to a new stamp, and the wind, riding an old bicycle, contribute to this reflective and nostalgic scene.
Blessing
In "Blessing," the poet metaph
KhawajaHaseebMagbool（巴基斯坦）
Nostalgia everywhere by Wei Yanlie is a profound collection of bilingual poetry exploring nature, culture, memory, and life's deeper meanings. Using vivid imagery and metaphors, the poems often blend serene landscapes with underlying complexities.
The collection starts with "Wolves," where wolves symbolize both beauty and danger on a grassland canvas. This sets the tone for poems like "Ankang," which blends dreams with reality through imagery like scooping up the moon.
"Nostalgia" in "Laba Festival" calls for a return to simplicity and natural living, away from modern complexities. This theme echoes throughout the collection, alongside spiritual reflections in poems like "Temple of Heaven" and "Wolong Temple."
"Night" portrays nighttime as introspective and contemplative, revealing a rich inner world. Poems like "Blessing" and "Ginkgo" celebrate nature's endurance and timeless beauty, while "Smog" addresses environmental concerns.
Overall, "the book" weaves together personal emotions with broader cultural and natural themes. Wei Yanlie's poetry showcases the power of language to convey the complexities of human experience, blending traditional themes with contemporary insight.