Appreciation of Varan Short Poems () ()

Author: Valan
Publisher:
Publish Date: March 1, 2005
Features: Valan is one of the most important figures in Chinese poetry after the movement, hailed as the "King of Short Poems." His poetry has always pursued a spirit of freedom. In an era where skyscrapers are the sky, people have forgotten the poets, and the names of poets have faded. Unfortunately, Valan, as a poet, appeared in this era and left a profound impression on the world of poetry. Valan, whose original name was Yang Qiao, is from Jiangsu Province. He began writing poems in 1979. In 1983, he quit his job to dedicate himself to poetry. In 1984, he published his first poetry collection. In 1986, he began writing the modern epic "Night Watch," which is still ongoing and is the first modern epic in the Han Chinese language. In his more than two decades of wandering life, Valan never stopped writing. For him, poetry almost meant everything, even though he had walked the world in various guises. In the blurred state of existence, only the identity of a poet is eternal. Valan, who once lived in poverty, said that what sustained him in writing poetry was not only his lifelong dream of completing an epic like the "Divine Comedy" but also the passionate poetry enthusiasts across the country who supported him. They come from different professions but share a natural interest and appreciation for poetry. To understand Valan, two keywords are essential: "sudden" and "sitting." "Sudden" is a variable, while "sitting" elevates the variable to nobility. Just like his trajectory in writing poetry, "In the summer of 1979, while cooling off under the shade of a tree by a small river, I suddenly began writing poems. The first poem, untitled, had only two lines: 'April lacks scenery, the fields are yellow with rapeseed.' From writing poems 'suddenly' to 'sitting' in poetry, this is itself the fate of poetry and the fate of the poet. Therefore, Valan said: 'Light sits in the arms of darkness.'" Critic Yu Jie, when discussing Valan's poetry, said: "A poet is someone who writes in a different 'interstellar language.' In Yu Jie's eyes, 'Valan is a unique figure—he deliberately distances himself from the mainstream poetic scene and writes his own poetry alone for over two decades. When the act of 'writing poems' needs to be 'validated' by events in the media, Valan remains silent, his writing to all this external clamor.' Valan has always kept his gaze fixed on the lonely and marginalized, he is the friend of the weak and the companion of the poor. Today's poets often pretend to be neurotic, but Valan remains as serene and content as a farmer in a bountiful harvest." Scholar Xia Kejun has also highly praised Valan's works. He asks himself: In an era where beauty is no longer believed in or needed, what will be the test for every true poet? After the Chinese language poetry abandoned lyrical and aesthetic qualities in the 1990s, what inspiration will the fierce inner convictions of poet Valan bring to the Chinese language? What discourse events will his writing bring? He answers himself: Poetry has never existed. She has been quietly sprouting. She is so transparent, so small, almost unnecessary to exist. Poet Valan's poetry gently illuminates and guards the increasingly fragile, sprouting Chinese language. In March 2005, Valan published his latest short poetry collection. This collection attempts to use color printing and features photographic works by the best photographer in Asia, Mr. Ma Fujiang. Young poetry critic Mu Duozhe has written annotations for some of the most important works in the collection. Valan is one of the most unique figures in the current literary world. His resolute rejection of secularization and vulgarity, as well as his consistent detachment from all schools and styles, has earned him respect from many. Some believe he is the most thoughtful intellectual in China since Lu Xun. His personal charm mainly lies in his pursuit of the freedom of independent thinking. His main contribution to modern poetry lies in: since the emergence of vernacular Chinese, he has brought substantial breakthroughs in the expression and connotation of new poetry. He has enriched the diversity and differentiation of the Chinese language. Valan's short poems usually express only one theme: concern for life. He believes that emphasizing "the value of life" and "the dignity of life" can enhance personal qualities.