Epoch Poetry Quarterly (Taiwan) has more than 60 years history. Luo Fu was one of the founders and was a renown Chinese poet in the world. Anna has translated his poems in Mirrors and Windows (Guernica Editions 2021) Epoch Poetry Quarterly #215 published Anna Yin’s translations of poems by three Canadian poets: Liz Howard, Don Gutteridge, Armand Garnet Ruffo (in both original text and translations)
Don Gutteridge is a Canadian author of 70 books: fiction, poetry and scholarly works, one of his poetry books was a finalist for Governor General’s Literary Awards in 1973. He taught at Western University in the Department of English Methods. He is now professor emeritus and lives in London, Ontario.
Don’s poetry collection with Anna Yin’s Chinese translation will soon be published by Sureway Press. Congratulations! Thanks Albert Moritz 牧辛 & R. G. Moyles for blurbs! More poems by Don with Anna Yin’s translations are in Epoch Poetry Quarterly, New World Poetry etc. We will showcase more. Stay tuned!
Mark Ulyseas has invited Anna Yin to be a guest editor for a special bilingual edition. She has selected the following eight Chinese poets and eight Canadian poets (not in Mirrors and Windows) with poetry from a wide range of themes, different styles and unique backgrounds… Their poems with Anna’s translations will be showcased in Feb, 2023 Live Encounters! Stay tuned!
Here we also want to share the following poems with Anna’s translations, which inspired her to write new poems for her CC grant project!
MAC’s Arts for Business Directory is a roster of professional performers, musicians, visual artists, instructors, photographers, and more. Anna Yin’s services: Poetry for Health and Harmony in this collection are available for corporate events and communities to connect people with nature and their own creativity. For details, please contact Anna! Happy Holiday Seasons!
In one of Morrisseau’s few political paintings, he emphasizes that the treaties between the first nations and the euro-canadians have not been honoured, He connects this disregard by the dominant culture to the treatment of the land.
The Land (Land Rights), 1976 by Armand Garnet Ruffo
This painting he doesn’t whip up for money: It’s the furthest thing from his mind. Something else is going on here.
He begins by separating the canvas into two spaces. Two paths much like a wampum belt.
One side blue for ocean. One side red for sunset. One side for Indian. One side for Whiteman.
On the Indian side, a man, the older generation, sits with a howling baby on his lap. A talking beaver balanced on his head like a totem. Below his feet birds and fish support him. The whole natural world inside him. Behind him, the faces of the ancestors facing backwards to the treaties.
Look at them, the man is saying, Look at this, but his words do not cross the divide and go unheard.
The child strikes out toward two white-faced Canadians startled by the cries curling from his mouth, by his fist nearly the size of his head punching through to their side.
The animals too protest the destruction the settlers have brought with them. Together they are saying when the earth dies we all die. It is something the artist wants you to see. Clearly, like a glass of drinking water.
The poem is from The Thunderbird Poems by Armand Garnet Ruffo (Harbour Publishing 2015) Paining: Norval Morrisseau, The Land (Land Rights), 1976. (Link)
Armand Garnet Ruffo is recognized as a major contributor to both contemporary Indigenous literature and Indigenous literary scholarship in Canada. His publications include Grey Owl: The Mystery of Archie Belaney (1996/ 2021); Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing Into Thunderbird (2014), The Thunderbird Poems (2015) and Treaty# (2019). A two-time finalist for Governor General’s Literary Awards, he is the recipient of numerous awards. In 2017, he was awarded the inaugural Mayor’s Arts Award from the City of Kingston, and in 2020, he was awarded the Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize. He is currently the Queen’s National Scholar in Indigenous Literatures at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Armand Garnet Ruffo是加拿大当代土著文学和土著文学学术的主要贡献者。著有《灰猫头鹰:阿奇-贝莱尼之谜》(1996/ 2021)《诺瓦尔-莫里索:人变雷霆鸟》 (2014), 《雷霆鸟诗集》 (2015) and 《条约#系列》 (2019)。两次入围总督文学奖,他荣获许多奖项, 包括2017年金斯顿市的首届市长艺术奖,2020年拉特纳作家信托诗歌奖。他目前是加拿大皇后大学的土著文学国家学者。
Anna Yin was Mississauga’s Inaugural Poet Laureate (2015-17) and has authored five poetry collections and one collection of translations: Mirrors and Windows (Guernica Editions 2021). Anna won the 2005 Ted Plantos Memorial Award, two MARTYs, two scholarships from USA and grants from Ontario Arts Council and Canadian Arts Council. Her poems/translations have appeared at Queen’s Quarterly, ARC Poetry, New York Times, China Daily, CBC Radio, Literary Review of Canada etc. She has designed and instructed Poetry Alive with multimedia since 2011. She read on Parliament Hill, at Austin International Poetry Festival, Edmonton Poetry Festival and universities in China, Canada and USA etc. 星子安娜 Anna Yin加拿大密西沙加市第一屆桂冠诗人(2015-2017)获2005 年安大略省詩人協會詩歌奖,2010/2014 密市文学奖,2013 CPAC专业成就奖以及2016/2017美国诗歌大会奖学金和安省艺术项目奖等。著有四本英文诗集以及《爱的灯塔》双语诗选和《Mirrors and Windows/镜子与窗户》东西诗翻译诗集。安娜诗歌以及翻译发表在多个国际刊物,也被加拿大国家诗歌月和全国公交巡展诗歌以及大学选用。安娜多次在国际诗歌节表演和講授诗歌,承任诗歌评委和策划人。
This is a part of Anna Yin’s project: To explore poetry/painting from Indigenous and Chinese sources with analyses and translations for cross-cultural bridging. We thank the Canada Council for the Arts and CPAC for support!
News of epidemic spread everywhere; our anxiety and worries grow . Yet the sun shines brightly and warmly, birds are seen here and there.
Masks mailing to you are still on their way; my heart waiting for you has set out flying. I hope the spring will soon blossom, and folks sing happily and freely.
Wandering in the woods at the moment, I stare at the setting sun; opening my hands to catch the distant light, I long for a new day to come. My dear, remember- I am waiting for you in the sun light.
When our city is hushed by infection,
storms smash it with no prediction;
but fearless heroes rush to rescue
even knowing danger waits ahead.
When we say goodbye to theaters
and pause gathering for the moment;
so many nameless volunteers race
to offer their hands to save our lives.
At the moment of departure,
each one’s eyes are tearful.
Remember the vows in your heart;
each minute passing,
each silent effort,
we all promise “So long for now”.
Facing the camera, you smile.
your smiles are so bright.
But being shorn isn’t easy for you;
in fact, you are also scared,
yet you pretend to be brave…
So many touching stories like this,
Each story is a warm sun for us.
No matter worn and exhausted
you say you’re used to it –
for the cold world, there must
be someone to warm it up.
I think I see a star not afar.
I know the star is each of you.
No need to be afraid anymore.
No need to be afraid.
When we lay down yesterday ’s troubles,
we will embrace more stunning wonders.
Rainbows appear after storms for a reason,
for you give out your warmth all the time.
Perhaps dawn is almost ahead,
your smile is even sweeter.
Yet dare not relax for a moment.
Regardless of wind and rain,
no matter how difficult it is,
remember the smiling faces in your heart.
And we remember your warmth in our hearts.
You are our heroes.
You are the bright stars.
Thank you for your rescue.
Thank you for your warmth.