The 32nd World Congress of Poets in Tainan, Taiwan

The Lead-up 

8-26-16 Fri. 

Thanks to a post from a Facebook poet who was going, I got the heads up on this conference, caught in time, six days before the deadline. Here’s what I wrote to the contact person last evening:

Hi Lulu: Let me introduce myself. I am David Barry Temple, a poet living in Taichung. I would like to attend the 32nd World Congress of Poets and even submit two poems for the World Poetry Anthology 2016. I have a few questions to facilitate my entry 

1. Need I pay $600 (Oct. 22-27, 2016) six days and five nights for accommodations, transportation, and meals if I will be travelling to the conference from my home in Taichung, eating and on my own? Would it still be possible to attend?  What would the entrance fee be? 

2. I would submit two poems to participate in the World Poetry Anthology 2016 and pay $50 for the editing cost, will attach my poetry, two photos, and self introduction in PDF file (no more than 150 words) if you can clarify the details. Please e-mail me. I am aware that the due date is August 31.

8-30-16

  I got a response from one of the organizers of the Poetry Conference in Tainan in October. She apologized for my first request being ignored a week ago and said it must have gotten lost in the junk file. I was told a one page, two-poem + photo+ introduction in their anthology would cost 1500 NT-$50 and a day at the conference 1000 NT-$33; four days for 3000 NT-$100. I wrote back that I could only attend on Sunday - the opening ceremony, meetings and dinner - but I would like to submit two poems. I submitted PDF copies of "Miss Lonelyhearts" and "Plum Rain, Suddenly," one old poem and one new. I also submitted my "Proudly serving Brooklyn since 1954" photo in front of Carvel ice cream and a new introduction. 

9-1-16 Thurs. 

     The outcome of my inquiry into the 32^nd Congress of Poetry meeting in Tainan at the end of October is, courtesy of the Chairman, to attend without cost. A request that I share the event with other local Taiwan poets was all the asking; I did so last evening posting the event to Taipei Writers Group, Taiwan Writers, and Kaohsiung Writing Group,  mentioning that similar arrangements could be made for other participants.  

Chairman Tsai Chi-Lan (Luerhman Fisher)

The introduction I wrote and sent for inclusion in the anthology shows a poet serious about his craft since 1978, active recitation, published, with a career in pedagogy just as long, with a wife, four grown children, and retirement to show; a seasoned veteran, and it's all true. The photo I sent of me, like a punk bohemian, has attitude. Though I was invited for the five day event, I politely declined and said I would attend the opening ceremony, events and dinner, on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the closing ceremony and award presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 27th.

9-5-16 Mon. 

     A week after I told my wife, Leona, about the 32^nd World Poets Congress, She did some research and found out who was running the show; hard-core Taiwan independence people were running the show. Even my favorite  Taiwan Socialist dude hero, Mr. Su Beng (Shi Chao-Hui) was an honorary supporter. She saw the tours the congress was going to be taking in Tainan, and the fancy hotel the group would be staying at. I asked her again if she wanted to go and she said ‘yes’. We could go down Sat., Oct. 24 for the welcome dinner and stay three nights through Monday, coming home Tuesday afternoon after the closing ceremony, or even go up to Taipei to complete with them to tour the Presidential Office before others  return to wherever they came from. I wrote an e-mail to Rita asking if her invitation to me also included my wife.

9-7-16                                                                            

Event Organizer Rita Tsai

Rita Tsai wrote back saying she asked her father, the Chairman, if I may bring my wife to the 32^nd Congress of Poets, and  he said, “Both of you are very welcome to the event." He is happy that I am bringing my wife with me to Tainan.  "He also said you are one lucky guy that your wife supports you in the Poetry World.” I gave her our ID # as requested for the three-night hotel reservation. 

9-12-16

   I mentioned the circumstances surrounding my attending the 32nd Poets Congress when I attended  Taipei Writers Group's Critique Meet. Jeremy, the only poet there yesterday, was a bit interested. He asked for Rita Tsai's e-mail address and may contact her. The others were put off by the cost. Some said they saw the post I had sent.

9-13-16

      There has been no response from Michael or Darren, two local Taichung writers, about going with me to the WCP.  I sent the WCP info to them.  In all, there are four or five ex-pat writers in Taiwan who are interested in participating in the 32nd WCP; Malcolm, from Kaohsiung Writing Workshop is the latest. I don't know if anyone besides me will get or take up the offer go. Quenntis Ashby, asked about the 32nd Congress of Poets. He is in the  KWW Facebook group, too. He has taken to posting his  poems there. We have had three chats since he responded. 

The Preparation

10-17-16

I was contacted by Rita Tsai yesterday morning asking for my and Leona's birthday for travel insurance. I asked if I would be reciting my poems during the event; Quenntis said he was told he was. Rita confirmed on Oct. 23, I would go on stage for 5-10 minutes. She said there would be an interpreter in English and Mandarin Chinese. I suggested I read my poem in Mandarin myself. She said that would be great, but I am not really prepared to do so. I spent a few hours trying to translate "Plum Rain Suddenly" while sitting up the river, but a translation does not make for interpretative poetry; the poem would have no intentional rhythm and inappropriate vocabulary. 

"Plum Rain Suddenly" words: 
https://hanriverpoems.blogspot.tw/2016/06/plum-rain-suddenly.html
live reading:
https://youtu.be/GYRK_znHSnY

     When I got home, I turned on the Google translator and the poem matched the lines I had worked on earlier; not that I was right, but both of us are wrong, I think. I shifted gears; now I would be satisfied if I could perform the poem from memory. I have most of it memorized after practicing a dozen times, with gestures and phrasing. "Miss Lonelyhearts" is a longer poem and I haven't begun to memorize it yet.

10-18-16

I IM'ed Rita Tsai to say say that I wouldn't have time to read both poems and a translation. She said she understood. I asked if friends and family could attend Sunday afternoon and she replied there were only 109 seats. 

10-19-16

My Mandarin tutor, Cheryl (Zhou Zhi-Xuan) offered to translate "Plum Rain Suddenly". I've already told Rita Tsai I wouldn't be reading a translation so anything that Cheryl does is for the interpreter to read. 
I am bemused by the whole WCP thing. I can turn it into whatever I like. I'm working on two levels; as a writer and as a teacher. The two personas bounce off each other, not taking the other seriously. I can boast of Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-Te being there or of being invited with the entourage to visit the President Office in Taipei, but it doesn't matter to me; it won't sway me to abandon my lighter side and become full of myself. I didn't join to win a contest.

10-21-16

I refuse to let any part of the WCP be boring. Quenntis might hang with us for four days though Saturday night dinner. I plan to go swimming in the hotel's pool, and I agreed that Leona contact her friend to do something together one evening. 

Quenntis' magic finger zapper

    Quenntis' choice of poems is more abstract compared with mine. I showed him my selection from the WCP anthology and he advised me to remove the second verse from "Miss Lonelyhearts" for its crude content. Not that I want to be a shock jock, but the disgusting images set up the clinker:"Will we smirk at our bodies of flesh in the cosmos?" when showing how shallow people can be in entering love relationships. 

The poem "Miss Lonelyhearts":
https://unpublished-rhyme.blogspot.tw/2016/07/miss-lonelyhearts.html

My Mandarin tutor spent hours poetically translating "Plum Rain Suddenly" into Mandarin. We spent two hours in class going over and editing it more; she wanted to know exactly what I meant by each image so it wouldn't get lost in translation. I hope the translator reads her work after I read in English. No interpreter has asked what our poems mean. Quenntis and I had a laugh wondering if some young thing would be saddled with translating "Miss Lonelyhearts" realism. 

10-22-16 Sat.

This evening the congress begins. Since the end of August, when I found out about the local poetry reading, I have taken it seriously. 

The Congress Itself 

10-23-16 Sun. 
      We arrived at the hotel at 4:00pm Saturday, and went to our room. I then went back down to register and receive materials; a laptop case with WCP materials. Leona looked in the anthology and didn’t see my profile page. I  was a little hurt hearing her say that the anthology must be for ‘real poets’ but I ignored her; she then found my page listed alphabetically by my first name.

The Tainan Philharmonic Choir with Professor Huang Nan-Hai

Tsai Tze-Min, Quenntis Ashby,Fang Yaw-Chien, and me

     The first night was the Gala Dinner at the Tayih Landis Hotel. It was an indication of things to come. The seating arrangement was made according to the poets' origins and language; My wife and I were seated at an international table with poets from South Africa (Quenntis), Mongolia, Singapore, Romania, and a few local poets. Other round tables had the Japanese, S. Korean delegation, and honored guests. The entertainment was from a chorus of legally blind singers, the Tainan Philharmonic Chorus, and local musicians on traditional instruments. There was even a trio of little sisters reciting Taiwanese poetry. We were welcomed by Chairman Tsai, and Honarary Chairman Baek, but Mayor Lai couldn't make it. It was great to see 99 year-old Su Beng, the 'Father of Taiwan Socialism.' A few poets read their work. In between, poets chatted, exchanged poetry collections, and got to know each other. 

Six poets remembered for what they are

     Laughing at the Romanian poetess at the cusp of the 32^nd World Congress of ‘Pretentious’ Poets has been fun.  I considered her lucky to be first to read for the full delegation. Quenntis has been saddled by her to be her photographer; I wonder how long he will put up with it. She even took food off his plate at dinner without permission.

A Lang Kim, renowned S. Korean poet 

      The second days started bright and early with the Opening Ceremony at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature. It was then that Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-Te addressed the Congress. A special award was given to Su Beng by the Honorary Chairman from S. Korea, Baek Han -Yi .

 32 WCP Honary President Baek Han-Yi  /Chairman Tsai with Tainan Mayor Lai Chi-Te












Su Beng (Shi Chao-Hui)"Father of Taiwan Socialism"

     In the afternoon, it was time for the poetry recitation. When other poets got up to read, no one had memorized their poem I nailed my recitation of “Plum Rain Suddenly” in 4:30 seconds with another 3:30 for Teacher Zhou Zhi-Xuan's translation. A professional video is being made of the event. We were allotted five minutes each but no one kept to it. In the end, there was some time left over. 
     I am proud that I was one poet who didn’t read from a  paper or smart phone screen. Not more than a few embellished their recitation with song or gesture. I was told I received the loudest applause after my reading.
     The Romanian poetess had them let her read her poem again because she didn’t like the environment at the Gala Opening Dinner; people were talking over her poetry. 

      The reading of Zhou Zhi-Xuan's translation of "Plum Rain Suddenly" by two fine interpreters. 

From the  Mongolian Writers Union,, L. Dashnya

10-25-16 Tues. 

      Sitting here in the Conference Room of the Tainan Library of Taiwan Literature, I listen to the closing remarks from Baek Han-yu, the S. Korean diplomat of poetry. While he does, I have an opportunity to sum up some feelings and notions about our four days here.

      The Chairman of WCP, Tsai Chi-Lan, was funny saying there had been no other closing ceremony attempted before this congress because most of the participants had already gone by then; about one-third remained here this morning. I am here, as a bookend, to bring closure; we are going home before the entourage heads out to lunch and a day and night at Sun Moon Lake.

      Most of the poets I have met have been nice people. Some have even been good poets. Only one has been annoying and conceited, getting into as many photo ops as she could, trying to steal every scene. One participant, who chooses to remain anonymous, went to complain about her and she was given a private docent to suffer her.

Taiwanese Poets 

Japanese Poets


Tainan Cultural Touring

Quenntis joins me "Over The Rainbow" at a lunch break

Seated with Police of Japanese Occupation in Taiwan

10-25-16 Tues.   Monday was set aside for us to get to know the "cultural capital of Southern Taiwan," Tainan. The sun was hot but the sky was crystal clear as we headed out early in two buses. Our first stop was at the National Museum of Taiwan History; I saw creative displays illustrating major events that make Taiwan a unique entity, indigenous settlers, Dutch, Spanish, and French colonizers, Koxinga, the Ming Dynasty pirate who used Taiwan to fight the Qing in vain, the Japanese who annexed and built the island up, and elite refugees from the Chinese civil war that, with help from the American victors , came to rule with 37 years of martial law. 

At The Matzu Temple

      The Chihkan Towers were our next stop, but Leona and I passed on the tour to cool our heels in a tea shop across the street; we had visited the historical site before. 
   We then visited a large Buddhist Temple with its Matzu protectors and relaxed with tea in the conference room. Chairman Tsai had contributed generously to this temple, one that was near his childhood home, and he shared his memories with us. We even visited that home of the self-made sponsor who rose from poverty and has given back so much to the people of Taiwan.  
     Finally, we took a ride on a barge up the Green Tunnel, a sliver of man-made river from Dutch times used for transporting goods, now a tourist spot shaded by mangroves of four kinds. It was nice to get out of the heat fort a while.

Sunset over Eternal Golden Castle

     The last stop before dinner was Eternal Golden Castle, Taiwan's defense against the Japanese, where we strolled around and saw a beautiful sunset. After that, we parted ways with our entourage for dinner with Leona's childhood friend and her family. 

 10-26-16  Wed. 

Passing through the Green Tunnel

     It is good to be back from the WCP troupe in Tainan. Two more days touring in Sun Moon Lake and Taipei would have been overkill. By yesterday morning 2/3 of the original participants had gone. 
     Most of the poets in the anthology didn't go or went and didn't read. Only the sincerity of Chairman Tsai and his hard working daughter, Rita, humbled the event. The tragedy of his eldest son, Rita's brother, moved me. The family accomplished a well-planned series of events that no pretension could tarnish.

Reflections 

10-25-16 Tues. 

  Quenntis and I with Taiwanese civic leader during  Occupation in the
 library of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature

     To all the ex-pat writers in Taiwan who didn't avail themselves of the offer to participate, you missed  a great time.

  The delegation from Mongolia that we shared a table with was lovely; we became very close  L. Dashnya even invited me to his hotel room for a drink which I regretfully declined to walk through an enormous department store next to the hotel with Leona; I needed a drink after that. 

     So many poets shared kind moments with us.  Mr. Baek, the WCP Honorary Pres. from S. Korea, gave me collection of his life works. Meiri Ong Kondo, the daughter of an exiled Taiwan independence writer, gave me an English copy of his landmark book, Taiwan; A History of Agonies. Yaw-chien Fang, a professor of Taiwanese  at National Taichung University of Education, chatted with me about starting a poetry festival here in Taichung one day! I met, thanked, and shook hands with the mayor of Tainan and the father of Taiwan's socialist movement.

       No one  on Facebook or  face to face, reacted when I told them the WCP was run by Taiwan independence supporters. None of them flinched at my remarks about the group's a-political poet contributors. Perhaps they didn't know, or perhaps they had already made up their minds not to go. 
    Did they know the flack that the Chairman had gotten from the Chinese in Taiwan who attacked him in the media?  AIT sent no representative to the WCP nor did The PRC or KMT. Mr. Tsai put up with a lot of crap to keep politics out, but even the DPP Ministry of Culture shunned him. The grief Chairman Tsai shouldered landed him in the hospital a few times with high blood-pressure. In the end, he got the recognition he deserved, but he spent a lot of money and time suffering to get it. Every poet there appreciated his sacrifice. 
     Rita Tsai, her husband , and a staff of one hundred worked so hard to make the WCP a success. It wasn't easy with the grief their family had suffered recently; a loss of a loved one.  She gave up a career in Vancouver to return and help her father produce this show.  To see the smile on her father's face throughout the five day event meant the world to her. I will always be indebted  to Rita for the kindness she showed to Leona and me, treating us like part of her family.  For the 32nd World Congress of Poets, hers was the rhythm that made everything rhyme.