感谢您的善意评论 (I hope I got that right!). So glad that this brought back some memories of poems to you. Thank you for the tip about 長安三萬里. I wonder if it will come to Tokyo, where I am based?
I will always have fond memories of Shanghai. And I hope you enjoy your trip back!
So interesting. You write about Shanghai living in the future. When we visited the Pearl Oriental Tower and the Shanghai History Museum located beneath the tower, our son-in-law came face to face with his ‘present’. A display illustrating country Chinese kitchens, almost identical to the one in the mountain dwelling where he was raised by his grandparents in Gansu. I’ve stayed there on a couple of occasions. On one visit, the prospect of rain washing the road away meant that we had to leave early on foot, a journey where we were accompanied by thousands upon thousands of little frogs. Much to remember and think about. Thank you.
Thank you Nicola. You're right, although the city was leaning into its future impatiently, the reality of life for large numbers of migrant workers in the city, mostly from the west of the country, was far from glittering. China has reduced poverty quicker than any country in history, we are told. But there's still a long way to go, no doubt.
This is such a beautiful and moving piece, Jeffery. I'm so very sorry for your loss. What a moving tribute you paid to your brother.
I'm writing this in Beijing and reflecting on our recent train trip to Shanghai for Chinese New Year. Sadly I don't speak Chinese so I'm not in a great position to know, but you're right that Shanghai doesn't exactly seem steeped in poetry! It's wonderful that you found some during your time there.
I've never been great at memorising either but I still remember the lyrics of the karaoke song I memorised to drag out as a party trick when I lived in Japan thirty years ago! Natsukashii... 😊
I'm so happy to have discovered your Substack. Looking forward to reading more reflections on international living and books - two of my favourite things.
Thank you for your kind words, Michelle. I hope you're enjoying Beijing. When I lived in Shanghai, the high-speed trains were just in the planning phase. I'd like to do that trip by train now.
I think you've lived in more places than I have! I've started to read your newsletter and really enjoy your writing. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Jeffrey, we would love to reprint this at TweetspeakPoetry.com, where our 2024 annual theme is "Journeys." Let us know if this can work for you. We really enjoyed this post!!! :)
Hi, thank you for your kind comment. And thank you also for offering to reprint this post. Please email me at englishrepublicofletters@proton.me so we can discuss any details.
I found the idea that Shanghai was living as if already in the future so interesting. I also really enjoyed all your reflections on the different poets - and that shared some for us to read. A great piece.
I have such a hard time with poetry, yet find I appreciate reading about other people's experience of it- this was a very moving glimpse, Jeffrey, thank you.
Where shall I begin? Your post brought me back to Shanghai, and to the poems that I memorized and then forgot, and my dream of one day translating my favorite Chinese poems in English :).
Have you heard about a recent Chinese animated feature movie "Thirty Thousand Miles from Chang'an" 長安三萬里？ When (if) it is released in the West, you might want to check it out. And I will have to check out Arthur Waley's translation work.
To answer your call for comment, I'd like to think when there are more people in Shanghai reading poetry (instead of sharing videos on WeChat) and when children no longer read from scripts and can just be children, then Shanghai (and China) is a place, world city (country) or not, I'd long to live and call it home again.
Meanwhile, I am planning a visiting trip sometime in the winter. Your prose just made me want to do it now. :)
感谢您的善意评论 (I hope I got that right!). So glad that this brought back some memories of poems to you. Thank you for the tip about 長安三萬里. I wonder if it will come to Tokyo, where I am based?
I will always have fond memories of Shanghai. And I hope you enjoy your trip back!
So interesting. You write about Shanghai living in the future. When we visited the Pearl Oriental Tower and the Shanghai History Museum located beneath the tower, our son-in-law came face to face with his ‘present’. A display illustrating country Chinese kitchens, almost identical to the one in the mountain dwelling where he was raised by his grandparents in Gansu. I’ve stayed there on a couple of occasions. On one visit, the prospect of rain washing the road away meant that we had to leave early on foot, a journey where we were accompanied by thousands upon thousands of little frogs. Much to remember and think about. Thank you.
Thank you Nicola. You're right, although the city was leaning into its future impatiently, the reality of life for large numbers of migrant workers in the city, mostly from the west of the country, was far from glittering. China has reduced poverty quicker than any country in history, we are told. But there's still a long way to go, no doubt.
This is so tenderly beautiful. Thank you for putting your heart into words.
This is such a beautiful and moving piece, Jeffery. I'm so very sorry for your loss. What a moving tribute you paid to your brother.
I'm writing this in Beijing and reflecting on our recent train trip to Shanghai for Chinese New Year. Sadly I don't speak Chinese so I'm not in a great position to know, but you're right that Shanghai doesn't exactly seem steeped in poetry! It's wonderful that you found some during your time there.
I've never been great at memorising either but I still remember the lyrics of the karaoke song I memorised to drag out as a party trick when I lived in Japan thirty years ago! Natsukashii... 😊
I'm so happy to have discovered your Substack. Looking forward to reading more reflections on international living and books - two of my favourite things.
Thank you for your kind words, Michelle. I hope you're enjoying Beijing. When I lived in Shanghai, the high-speed trains were just in the planning phase. I'd like to do that trip by train now.
I think you've lived in more places than I have! I've started to read your newsletter and really enjoy your writing. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Jeffrey, we would love to reprint this at TweetspeakPoetry.com, where our 2024 annual theme is "Journeys." Let us know if this can work for you. We really enjoyed this post!!! :)
Hi, thank you for your kind comment. And thank you also for offering to reprint this post. Please email me at englishrepublicofletters@proton.me so we can discuss any details.
I found the idea that Shanghai was living as if already in the future so interesting. I also really enjoyed all your reflections on the different poets - and that shared some for us to read. A great piece.
Thanks
Interesting and well written 👍
Thank you Michael!
Thank you for your kind words, Michael. Shanghai was a fascinating place. The most confident city I have ever lived in.
Thank you for your kind and generous words. I am so glad the piece worked for you.
I have such a hard time with poetry, yet find I appreciate reading about other people's experience of it- this was a very moving glimpse, Jeffrey, thank you.
Thank you Troy. Poetry was my first love. So there will be more! But plenty of other things too, I hope, as this newsletter develops.
Where shall I begin? Your post brought me back to Shanghai, and to the poems that I memorized and then forgot, and my dream of one day translating my favorite Chinese poems in English :).
Have you heard about a recent Chinese animated feature movie "Thirty Thousand Miles from Chang'an" 長安三萬里？ When (if) it is released in the West, you might want to check it out. And I will have to check out Arthur Waley's translation work.
To answer your call for comment, I'd like to think when there are more people in Shanghai reading poetry (instead of sharing videos on WeChat) and when children no longer read from scripts and can just be children, then Shanghai (and China) is a place, world city (country) or not, I'd long to live and call it home again.
Meanwhile, I am planning a visiting trip sometime in the winter. Your prose just made me want to do it now. :)
Happy Mid-Autumn festival! 中秋節快樂！