"Only Labor Can Soothe Us"On Li Yue's Long Poem A Long Journey
Rong Guangqi
Abstract: Among the "post-80s" contemporary Chinese poets, Li Yue is renowned for his long poems. Prior to A Long Journey (Yuan You), he had already published another long poem titled Slow (Man), which reflects the "great" style of Hai Zi in terms of spirit, structure, and language. LiYue drew his inspiration from multiple resources, including a deep foundation in both western and Chinesemodern literature, the poetry tradition of Mount Luojia, and a professional background in existential philosophy. One of the central themes of A Long Journey is "labor," an existential concept that critiques metaphysical and ideological understanding the world. The purpose is to encourage the poet to experience the "earth" firsthand. Through his depiction and imagination of rural life in Northwest China and the technologically advanced contemporary society, Li Yue's spiritual "journey" seeks the "truth" of existence. His writing offers significant insights into the relationship between humanity and the world, how poetry communicates with the world, and the structural artistry of long poems.
Key words: Long poem; Slow; A Long Journey; Great poetry; Labor
WeChatHotline
