Girl Power: Poet Cai Qijiao: Poet Cai Qijiao

Author: Wang Binggen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: Authoritative reviews say that in the history of contemporary Chinese poetry, in every era (from the 1950s to the 1970s during the Cultural Revolution until the early 21st century), there have been poets who left enduring works, but none could match Cai Qijiao—even Ai Qing. As a young poet, Cai Qijiao appeared on the New China’s poetic scene in the 1950s with remarkable distinction. He came from a liberation zone and was an old revolutionary of the "March 8th" generation, yet his poetry bore no trace of a revolutionary’s demeanor. He was unconventional, true to himself, and miraculously avoided many political storms. In the ultra-leftist 1960s, he shouted: "Let me raise the cup of betrothal, to cheer for the eternal spring; Long live the sun! Long live the moon! Long live the stars! Long live the girl! Long live love and youth!" He boldly declared: "For a single joyful kiss, I would not hesitate to shatter myself to pieces." These two lines were his life’s motto. While marveling at the poet’s candor, people also felt a sense of worry for him, as the women around him seemed to spin like a merry-go-round when he was in the midst of poetic inspiration. The poet did not shatter himself, but he paid a bitter price. Yet, the poet did not give up poetry, nor did he retreat hastily from the whirlpool created by the opposite sex. Ai Qing asked him if he regretted paying such a price. He replied, "No, I don’t regret it." Not only did he not regret it, but at the age of eighty-six today, he still remains vigorous, his youthful heart undiminished, his poetic passion undying, and he openly shared everything with fire. Cai Qijiao, a man of profound love in this world. Cai Qijiao, a lone wolf of the poetic world who dares to speak and loves boldly.