Modern Talks on Poetry

By Dr Ana Stjelja

Before the readers of this book are 25 interviews with renowned poets from all over the world, of all generations. The book Modern Talks on Poetry was created as a result of my journalistic work in the period from 2019 to 2022. What particularly inspired me to publish this book is the idea that poetry played a very significant role during the pa

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Dec 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9789360499143

Book preview

James Tian Yu (China)

"My poems are characterized

by concern for human development"

Thank you for taking time out to talk to me James Tian Yu. Could you please introduce yourself to our readers.

Iʼm a poet and writer from China. I am a translator, and musician as well. I began to write when I was six years old. Now I have created more than 1,000 ancient poems, more than 300 modern poems and more than 1,000 lyrics. There are also most dramatic, cross talk and prose works. Seven monographs have been published, including one short story collection, two modern poetry collections, two ancient poetry and lyrics collections. My works have won nearly twenty awards in China, including ten national awards. And won two international awards. This year Iʼm invited to attend the Indian International Poetry Festival and the Indonesian Poet Congress.

As a poet, how would you describe your poetry, and tell us something about your literary achievements, publications.

My poems are characterized by concern for human development, and I like to use more abstract images and metaphors to describe the inner world. My works have been published in more than twenty kinds of publications in China, such as Star Poetry, Chinese Literature, Chinese Poetry etc. and other national publications. At the same time, it has also been published in Singaporeʼs Xinhua Literature and Japanʼs Cantonese Style Poems and other foreign journals. I was also presented in the Serbian magazine Alia Mundi for cultural diversity.

You belong to one of the oldest and richest cultures of the world, what would you choose as the most important elements of the Chinese culture.

In fact, this question is very simple. Chinese traditional culture is the essence, focusing on the relationship between nature and people. In fact, every culture in the world is like this, but Chinese traditional culture is more calm and thoughtful, which is the important element.

How do you see the idea of cultural diversity, did you have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with some other culture of the world, and if you did which culture you find interesting for you? Do you like travelling and meeting the people from different countries and cultures?

Cultural diversity is an inevitable existence. Because of the development of human history, race and consciousness are the yardsticks to distinguish different cultures. So it makes the difference between different cultures. But I think that no matter how diverse the culture is, its purpose is to explore the relationship between the origin of human beings and nature. The difference is only similar to the difference in the lines between leaves and leaves. In recent years, with the increasing opportunities to go abroad and the synchronization of reading, I have many opportunities to understand different cultural characteristics. At this stage, Iʼm very interested in Japanese culture and the ancient Italian culture. For example, the traditional characteristics of Japan, I can see the shadow of ancient China, but it is in todayʼs China, can not be found. I think Italian culture has the style of Roman and Greek culture. And yes, I like traveling and reading very much, which is what my family pursues. I am still single now, and in the future, I want to find a companion who can travel with me. And Iʼd like to meet people from different countries and cultures. Exchanging with them can make my soul very happy. There is an old saying in China that; itʼs important to have friends coming from afar.

Tell us briefly about the cultural heritage of the place you come from. What would you recommend for the foreign tourists and visitors to see?

My hometown is a famous place in China, Taiʼan City, Shandong Province. Here has the first mountain in China, called Mount Tai. I believe some foreign friends know about this mountain. In the history of China, more than forty emperors came here to hold ceremonies. Until now, every year when Chinese traditional festivals come, like the Spring Festival, there will be a large number of tourists here to pray for happiness. My family is at the foot of Mount Tai and I am very proud to live next to the first mountain in China. If foreign friends come to me here, the first thing I will do is to recommend the culture of Mount Tai to them. In addition, there is also a famous palace in China, Dai Temple, which is also a historical and cultural relic.

What is the position of books and literature in Chinese society. Do Chinese people like to write and read poetry, novels?

To be honest, the literary circle in China is very chaotic, which is also one of my worries. Literature and books are actually disconnected. Many nominal writers or poets do not publish books for literary responsibility, but for the tools they use to gain fame in exchange for money and power. So today, books and literature in China, on the surface, attach great importance to, in fact, everyone only cares about the size of their own reputation, the amount of money, they most despise is literature. As for books, they are nothing more than books. In China, there are many people who write poems, but most of them donʼt like it. They write poems because of they want to let others see that they are cultured, and it can bring them benefits. This has also created a very special phenomenon in China. I believe that other countries will also have it. That is; the works written are obnoxious to read, but there are still a large number of people who call themselves poets every day. So, Chinese people no longer read poetry. They donʼt like reading books. They prefer to watch mobile phones and surf the Internet. However, there are still many official figures in China. In order to make foreigners think that China is still a big cultural country, they always cooperate with some foreign poets. In fact, these are all false. Therefore, in China, there are only the best-selling writers, not the peopleʼs favorite writers. People like poets and writers who are ancient poets, such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, Cao Xueqin and so on. By the way, if you want to really understand the voice of the Chinese people, you still need to come in person to make it clear. The official data of Chinese writers and poets are mostly false.

What literary topics are the most interesting for Chinese people?

The most interesting literary topic for Chinese people at this stage is which writer sells books at a high price.

Do you have a literary idol?

The literary idols I worship are Li Bai and Su Shi in the field of ancient Chinese poetry. In the world of poetry, I most appreciate Shakespeare and Yeats. In the field of fiction, I admire Cao Xueqin of China, O Henry of America and Ryunosuke Akutagawa of Japan.

What are your plans for the future?

As for literature, it is my life. It has no boundaries. So, my future plan is to write my works well, to influence more people and let them find their own shadow. My literary career is bound to be uneven, just like many literati, which I am prepared for. But will never give up.  As for my literary expectation, it is to impress all the people in the world with literature and light a lamp for their lives.

About  James Tian

James Tian Yu is a poet and writer from China. He began writing when he six years old, and has gone onto creating more than 1,000 ancient poems, more than 300 modern poems and more than 1,000 lyrics. He has also had seven monographs published, as well as one short story collection, two modern poetry collections and two ancient poetry and lyrics collections. He has won ten national and two international awards. His poems have been published in several languages, including Serbian in the book of selected poems Starry Night Covered by the Fireflies.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Egypt)

"Reading good poetry and listening to excellent poems

could be a therapy way of life"

Thank you for taking time out to talk to me Ashraf. You are a prominent Egyptian poet, writer, translator and editor. What is your first encounter with poetry? What poetry means to you?

Men and women are born poets; touched by things around with senses. Feelings of surprises, pains and