The journal of

21st Century Chinese Poetry 《廿一世纪中国诗歌》is an independent journal committed to showcasing the best of contemporary Chinese poetry. We exist to discover and celebrate poetry and the Chinese poets that write them with the largest possible Anglophone audience.

In the early twentieth century, The May Fourth Movement (1917-1921) launched an era where vernacular Chinese was for the first time accepted as a legitimate poetic voice. This was followed by an outpouring of verse written in 'plain speech' by people from all walks of life in contrast to the classical, elitist poetic forms of imperial China.

A century has now almost passed since these 'new' poetic voices emerged. Vernacular poetry has continued to blossom in poetry journals and in cyberspace.

The editor and translators at 21st Century Chinese Poetry are committed to translating poets from across China who would otherwise remain virtually unknown to Western audiences.

Please send all enquiries, suggestions and corrections regarding 21st Century Chinese Poetry to Meifu Wang at:

editor@modernchinesepoetry.com.

Founder and Editor
Meifu Wang

POEM OF THE DAY 每日一首

LESSER HEAT*

• By Yang Zi


• Under northern trees, there is still the trace of a cool breeze.
• An eagle spreads its wings and circles.
• The haystacks are all gone, leaving a few sparrows behind.
• The garlic patch is brimming with little white flowers.


• In the straw cage, crickets are chirping loud and bright.
• A yellow dog lies at the doorway, tongue flexed, panting
• The ox chews its cud, sparrows occasionally heard chirping in the fruit trees.
• Magpies fly over the courtyard wall. The clouds seem to stir without moving.


• Sitting on a step under the eaves in my small family courtyard,
• I feel, at last, level like a vat of water, an indescribable feeling—
• a cup of Pu'er tea, a bowl of noodles, a savory dish,
• the scorching midday sun, a few simple words exchanged.


• Note:
• The lunar calendar divides a year into 24 climatological intervals; each interval is 15 days—from new moon to full moon or full moon to new moon. The interval of Lesser Heat is the eleventh interval of the year, starting on the new moon after Summer Solstice.


• Translated by Duck Yard Lyricists, a group of devoted poetry lovers: Meifu Wang, Peter Micic, Michael Soper, & Johan Ramaekers


• Symultaneouly broadcast in China via Wexin （微信） by our partner — China's Poetry Journal （诗刊）: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/0Ekbf9oGd9_Kud8oUhpedg

All rights reserved. Reproduction with permissions only. 版权所有，未经许可，切勿转载，违者必究。