Poetry is an artform employed to explore the deepest human truths that are otherwise almost impossible to get hold of via day-to-day prose. Its musical qualities and relative brevity mean that it has been created by writers from all sections of society, regardless of culture and class, giving us incredible insight into diverse lives. It would therefore be remiss of us to only pay attention to English speaking poets. Sometimes, it takes a little more effort to truly immerse ourselves in the work of writers from other cultures, but it is well worth the effort, as you’ll see through this exploration of two poets from distinct cultural backgrounds.

Spearheading our mini-voyage is Xixi, the local poet-par-excellence of her generation and an influential figure in contemporary Hong Kong literature. Inspired by film, Xixi has experimented with fusing elements of it into her poetry. At Marienbad/在馬倫堡 (1964) is an early exemplary example of this effort:

The face of the afternoon paper. A stampede of fenced-in cattle. Green light. I race against the sick Futurist sun. All figures are →.

– 1st stanza; translated by Jennifer Feely

By employing the oft-used film technique of montage in her poem, Xixi is able to establish a quick rhythm and evoke intense and varied emotions by juxtaposing images with each other. The controlled freedom of ‘green light’ complements the contradictory imagery of a ‘stampede of fenced-in cattle’ perfectly, bringing to mind perhaps job-bound Hong Kong workers at a crossroad during rush hour.

Our second poet is Federico García Lorca. Born near Granada in Fuente Vaqueros, Spain, Lorca became famous for drawing inspiration from the local area’s Gypsy heritage while also embracing the fiery passion of Spanish song and dance. This extract from Canción de Jinete / Rider’s Song (1937) exemplifies the songlike quality of his poetry:

Alas! the long, long highway,

Alas! my valiant pony,

Alas, that death is waiting

Before I reach Cordova.

Cordova, far and lonely.

By employing short lines and segments, Lorca was able to infuse his poem with a unique musicality that mimics that of a song, creating a mournful yet longing mood as the rider foresees his inevitable death before arriving at that promised land of Cordova, his home.

Appreciating poetry from different backgrounds does not require knowing another language, only curiosity and the desire to empathize. It is also conducive to gaining a global perspective that transcends the East-West divide. What’s more, the human truths and artistic achievements contained within the artform definitely deserve exploration beyond our comfort zone!