EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
                    THE STAR OF FORMOSA
                               LEE KUEI-SHIEN
                                    GREATEST POET OF TAIWAN

                                        By Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin

"Poetry has for a long time been treated as if it was merely a form of verbal trickery. But poetry is much more than this. Some of our better known poets are often trying to dress themselves with a magic overcoat of language skills but with nothing inside their spirit. This tendency has been deepened via the powerful influence of Government and the mass media. So that many scholars who are used to the effect of window dressing cling to the western aesthetics of modern literature or post-modernism. As a result, Taiwanese poetry has lost its spiritual essence and fallen into a state of emptiness", says Dr. Lee kuei-shien, a famous Taiwanese poet, who received the great honour of Taiwanese poetry Award on January 2,1997.

Born on June 19, 1937, Lee graduated from Taipei Institute of Technology in 1958, Faculty of Chemical Engineering. European Language Center of Educational Ministry, in 1964. Majoring in German literature, Lee was honoured with Ph.D., in Chemical Engineering (Honoris Causa), by Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna International University Foundation, in 1985.

He has authored as many as eleven poetry books and have translated 9 works written by famous poets. Dr. Lee has written eleven essays on poetics including "An Interpretation to Rilke's Duineser Elegien", "Journey to Europe", "Profile of the Souls", "Essays on German Literature", "On International Patent Practices", "Critical Essays on Chinese Translations of English poetry", "The witness of poems" and others.

The translations include that of "The Trial" by Franz Kafka, "Rainer Maria Rilke" by H.E. Holthusen, "Prussian Night" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, "Selected poems" by Giouse Carducci, "Selected Poems" by Salvatore Quasimodo and others.

Dr. Lee Kuei-shien's poetry has been translated into several foreign languages such as English, German, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Napalese, Serbian, Romanian and Greek.

Dr. Lee has been tirelessly writing poetry over forty years now to show his love to Taiwan and his faith in the truth. He is a surrealist poet in the real sense of the term!

Surrealism is a 20th Century avant-garde movement in art and literature aiming to explore and express the subconscious, and to move beyond the accepted conventions of reality by representing in poetry and art the irrational imagery of dreams

In poetry, there was experiment with 'automatic' writing, the setting down of words unfettered by the conscious mind; in the visual arts surrealism is represented both by a fluid abstract style analogous to this and by more 'realistic' style which relied on deliberately ambiguous combinations of recognizable forms, creating a disorientating realist imagery often based on dreams, hallucination, and paranoia.

It is heartening to mote that Lee's poetry is pregnant with wisdom and value.
"Those writers who do not have the power and strength to criticize society, the courage to resist falsehood and lies, the moral sense of righteousness to resist political influences and the ambition to reconstruct heart and soul will never be a real poet but at best a poetry craftsman no matter how flashy his skills are", remarks Dr. Lee who is the recipient of many international awards:
"The Outstanding poet Award" (1967), "The Wu-Tzou-Liou", New poetry Award (1975), "The Invention Award in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen" (1975), "The Chung Hsing literary medal for poetry" (1978). "The Poetic Critique Award of Li poetry Society" (1984). "Albert Einstein International Academy Foundation Bronze Medal for peace" (1986), "The Asian poet of Merit, Korea" (1993), "The Poetic Creation Award of Li Poetry Taiwan" (1994), "Rong -hou Taiwan Poetry Award" (1997), "and many others.

A member of Li Poetry Society in Taiwan, a member of Rilke- Gesellschaft in Switzerland, a founder fellow of The International Academy of Poets in England, Dr. Lee was Director of Taiwan P.E.N. since 1987 and its president in 1995-96. He is listed in as many as 15 international who's who in poetry".
Speaking about the intricacies of poetry and poetics, Dr. Lee says "to qualify as a real poet, the writer must be able to express the common feelings of a people sufferings from the political injustice. He must stand side by side with the people. A good poet should both be a skilled manipulator of words and a person who has something real to express. In writing poems, Content is always more important than style".

A ten-member Taiwanese poet-delegates headed by Dr. Lee Kuei-shien attended Poets International's " 7th INDIA POETRY FESTIVAL 2002", on 7th December 2002, at Bangalore, opened a new chapter of "Indo-Taiwanese Poets Friendship" with the publication of " DIALOGUE WITH THE SOUL OF POETRY" by Council for Cultural Affairs, Government of Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan, in November 2002. This beautiful poetry anthology contains the works of ten Taiwanese poets, each contributing two poems in Chinese and their translations in English language, with a preface by Chairman of Council for Cultural Affairs.

The visiting poets read out their poems at Poets International's "INDIA POETRY FESTIVAL 2002" which ultimately proved to be an inspiring event for all, especially to the Taiwanese poets who carried their sweet memories back home, and published the works of ten Indian poets in "LITERARY TAIWAN" (Chinese), selected and edited by Dr. Lee Kuei-shien, in April 2003, to show their love towards India and Indian poets. Those fortunate poets are Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Shiela Gujral, J. Bapu Reddy, Mohammed Fakhruddin, J. Gordon Hindley, Padmanaban, Syed Ameeruddin, Srinivas Rangaswami, V. Kondal Rao, and Krishna Srinivas.

Dr. Lee Kuei-shien will lead another Taiwanese 10 members, including himself, delegation to attend 8th India Poetry Festival in Bangalore, on 6th December 2003.

Q. What's the poetic scene in Taiwan today?

A. In general speaking, the poets are welcomed by the readers. It can be demonstrated by the fact that in most of the newspaper one poem is published almost everyday in their daily literary supplement, with a reward equivalent to 20 to 30 US dollars. But the circulation of poetry magazines and books of poems is very miserable, as far as 100 to 200 copies only. Irrespective of this cold treatment, there are still about 100 volumes of poems published every year, and a number of poetry magazines keeps published regularly or irregularly, among them three eldest magazines, i.e. "Li" (Bamboo Hat ) poetry bimonthly ,"Epoch" quarterly and "Blue Star", have been appeared for forty years more or less. On the other hand, there are many ,say, 20 to 30 literary contests, of course, including poetry item, are sponsored by various levels of government and private organization annually, the top winner may receive a prize around 2000 to 3000 US dollars. A lot of junior poets and new hands are enthusiastic in contributing to these contests trying to get the prize and as well to win the appreciation of senior poets who serve as examiners of the contests.

Q. Is there any difference between Chinese Poetry and Taiwanese Poetry? If so, could you please differentiate between the two?

A. Most of the Taiwanese poets write poems in Chinese, and few in Taiwanese language, English and Japanese. Some elder generations still fond of writing haiku, tanka and Zen poetry in Japanese, published both in Taiwan and Japan.
Formally, most of Taiwanese poetry are written in same Chinese characters as Chinese poetry, but they are substantially different. Briefly, in Taiwan the so-called New Literature Movement enters into modernism not long after it was commenced in 1920's. But in China, not until 1980's the poetry was flourished in romanticism, then transient to socialism realism. Many critics agree that in recent twenty to thirty years Taiwanese poetry has given Chinese poetry a revelation to initiate its modernism in the beginning. But, however, since the social reality and culture consciousness are different between Taiwan and China so that the theme, expression, image, symbol, metaphor, syntax and the like in the poetry are naturally quite different to each other. In basic spirit, Taiwanese poetry is frequently seen to criticize the political and social alienation but in Chinese poetry, this is still quite a serious taboo. Anyway, China cannot be deemed as a democratic and free country, at least in present circumstances.

Q. Who are the great Taiwanese Poets of the past? Could you please quote of the popular verses with English translations?

A. Frankly, I can say there are some major Taiwanese poets in the past, but I do not dare to deem any great poets existed in past Taiwanese Literature. The significant poems are unavoidably relevant to past reality in Taiwan. It will cost a long story to describe it, so that I suppose it had better not to quote any verse without further explanation. Please forgive me for neglecting to do so.

Q. Do you think that all the poets in the East, irrespective of the countries they belong to, think and express alike when compared to their counterparts in the west?

A. Yes, but except Japanese poets. In my general impression , most of Japanese poets indulge themselves in modernism wholeheartedly, which leads them more concerning about their inner word and thus inclining to more alike to the poets in the west than other oriental poets. This impression comes out of my experiences that with respect to the thinking and expression, I feel quickly involved into the poems written by the poets for example, of India, Korea and China, rather than of Japan. Of course, what I mentioned is in ordinary circumstances without excluding particular or individual case.

Q. What kind of poetry young poets prefer to write?

A. The young poets seem, on the one hand, like to write the poetry something puns. May be it deemed funny or treated as a measure to turn over the establishment. Their brilliant excuse is parody or even post-modernism in big exaggeration. On the other hand, the young poets prefer to dispose too many images in relation among one another; it seems very complication but actually has the defect of losing concentration. Most of the young poets neglect the ability to focus on the target that one poem intends to express. Of course, the points of view that the young poets aim at are quite different to their upper generation. Anyway, it reflects that the time changes and varies quickly.

Q. How do the youths in Taiwan react to poetry?

A. The youths in Taiwan like to read the poems, to attend the poetry recital and to write their own feeling in the form of poetry in hasty mood and published on the internet at their pleasure. But only a few of them would like to buy poetry magazines and poems, to pay attention or respect to the genius for poetry and to make every endeavor in studying the essences of the poetry. It seems to them that the creation of poetry is very simple and easy, without any effort and hard study. It is true that everyone might become a poet, but eventually only a few people who write poems with deliberation can be recognized as a poet.

Q. Are there any traditional and metrical forms in Taiwanese poetry?

A. Yes, there are so-called classical poetry or old poetry in Taiwan, with strict regulation of rhythm and rhyme and still profoundly created by those so-called classical poets. The classical poetry in Taiwan is quite similar to Chinese traditional poetry in using same literary language but with different pronunciation of almost every word. The classical poetry in Taiwan has a history nearly 400 years. Because the rhythm and rhyme as well as the number of words used in the form of poetry are strictly regulated or limited, so that every classical poem can be sing as a song with various well developed melodies. This is good for helping the memory of the content of a poem.

Q. What is the ethnic language of Taiwan and how many years old?

A. About 98% of Taiwanese population are the descendants of Chinese people migrated from China since about four hundred years ago and have gotten the mixed marriage to the aborigine lived in lower land or plain , so called plain aborigine to become now the mixed Taiwanese people. Of course the ethic languages of plain aborigine are almost completely disappeared. But there are still 10 tribes of aborigine lived in mountains, i.e. so called mountain aborigine , having overall population more or less 400,000, still keep their own styles of life, unique cultures and languages having been used, probably for four to five thousand years, but without written characters to record their thinking. At least some of those 10 tribes among mountain aborigine use the languages somewhat similar to the Polynesian system. Recent studies by some anthropologists report that the Polynesian people in Pacific islands are originated from Taiwan.

Q. What's the Taiwanese poetry ? Could you please quote some verses with English translation?

A. The modern Taiwanese poetry is diversification. Every mature poet tries to find different expression and goes to establish his own unique or varied styles. An attractive characteristic in modern Taiwanese poetry is the spirit of resistance against established political power, particularly, the colonianism of Japanese imperialistic ruler from 1895 to 1945 and the quasi-,re- or post-colonialism of Chinese fasicistic administration ruled by Chinese Nationalist party after 1945 up to about three years ago that Taiwan stepped forward to real democratization and liberalization through a so-called "Silent Revolution".
I may quote my poem "Life" for example, which was written in 1969 at once challenging the "violent summer", the oppressive ruler, and encouraging the solidarity force "in the wilds " to throw over "the center", the central ruling group.

The knife was thrown
Over and over
Gradually converging to the center

He stared at the violent summer
In such a practicing gesture
Finally became dizzy

Life was calling in the wilds
Each time when his hand dropped
Life was calling in the wilds

He condensed himself into a knife
Gathering his strength toward the hot-centered wall
To make the last dart

Q. What's the Government contribution to encourage poetry writing in Taiwan?

A. The Government provides financial support for both official and private institutions to sponsor literary contests, including the part of poetry, and to print the books of literature, of course, including poems too. The Government also encourages qualified publishing companies and individuals to make an effort in translating Taiwanese literature into various foreign languages, and preferably, published or circulated in foreign countries.

Q. What role Universities in Taiwan play in making poetry on par with other subjects in the curriculum?

A. There are curriculums about poetry in most of Universities in Taiwan, but primary object is to study or to learn what's expressed in poetry, of course, this will lead the students interesting in creation of poetry. Anyway, by now there is only one graduate school aiming to cultivate the ability or to raise the gift of the students in creation. After all, the genius for poetry would not be necessary accomplished by teaching in regular system of education.

Q. Are there universities or colleges that have appointed Poets-In-Residence to teach and guide poetry to the aspiring students in the West?

A. Yes, there are different form of the roles that the appointed Poets-In-Residence in the universities to play. Some of the poets need to have a couple of public speeches in the compus, some are asked to give a regular course about the creation in whole semester, while others may prefer to discuss with the students and answer their questions in an appointed meeting.

Q. Which are the poetry organizations, clubs or associations that actively involved in promoting Taiwanese poetry?

A. Take "Li" (Bamboo that) poetry society, which I have been a member belong to since it was founded in 1964, for example, it consists of around 70 to 80 members frequently, of course, some took part in and some drew out during the period nearly 40 years. Li society publishes its poetry magazine "Li Bimonthly "
regularly and uninterruptedly till now, reaching 237 issues. Li accepts the contribution of creations, critical essays and translation of poems from its members and non-members in equal treatment. Li sponsors several times the contest of poetry creation, critique and translation, and presents the golden medal to the winners. By the way, Li publishes several anthologies and poetry series over 150 volumes, as well as sponsors a plurality of poetry symposiums and public poetry recitals. Li also do it best on the poetry communication with the poets of foreign, particularly, Asian countries.

Q. What is the public response to poetry publication in Taiwan?

A. The public response to poetry publications in Taiwan can be expressed by one single word: cold.

Q. Being a Chemical Engineer, what made you take up poetry as the best mode of your expression?

A. As a Chemical Engineer my ordinary life and career, profession and the ways of thinking are too much hard, in other words, full of reasons. I prefer to have sensitive counter balance in my mind and soul. Since my words are quite stressed so that I indulge in reading, creation and translation of poems. It costs, for me, less time compared to other categories of literature, for example, novels, playwrites and academic studies. By the way, it is also less trouble to interrupt and re-start the process of poetry reading, creation and translation. On the contrary, I have indulged myself in the field of poetry for fifty years uninterruptedly.

Q. Do you also write poetry in English directly?

A. No, I write poetry in Chinese and Taiwanese only. In fact, my poems in English text are translated by my friends and translators of experts or amateurs. Frankly, I can not all satisfactory in those translations. But I am always thankful to them in my deep heart, some translations cost them too much laborious times for no rewards.

Q. You have been writing for the last 40 years. What kind of developments and changes your poetry acquired over the years?

A. The developments and changes of my poetry are almost in close relation to the developments and changes of Taiwan society. Since I realize that the poetry cannot completely having nothing to do with the reality, so that I always gaze and concern about of living conditions and feelings of Taiwanese people against the politic situation. I would like to express the sense not only of myself but also most of the people living in same community.

Q. Your poetry is multi-dimensional in expression and propagates universalism, socialism, and upholds the principles of democracy. What made you think, write and express like that?

A. It seems a serious contradiction that the poetry should express at once unique and universal feelings. It is unique because a poet should avoid to repeat anyone even himself, but it does not mean that the poetry presents his or her unique mode rather the universal sympathy, say, the humanism. In other words, the poems created by a poet must firstly find an echo or consonance in the heart of the persons in his society, then it can probably vibrate the chords of the souls in other countries. Therefore, in my opinion or consciousness the universalism,
socialism and principles of democracy are the universal common values that a poet should inherently and insistently to uphold.
Q. Who are you mentors or ideal poets?

A. There is a long list of the names to be mentioned. But in general whenever I read a poem and find I like it. I will try to read more poems by the same poet, then he or she is automatically enlisted too. In my career of poetry creation I have paid much attention and costed quite a lot of time on reading, studying and translating the works of Rainer Maria Rilke. So that I may say that he is accordingly at the top of my list.

                                                      PLACE AN ORDER FOR A COPY OF
                                                                    THE STAR OF FORMOSA
                                                                      LEE KUEI-SHIEN
                                                               GREATEST POET OF TAIWAN
                                                   for your reading pleasure

______________________________________________________________________
Dr. M. Fakhruddin is a poet, Indian journalist journalist and editor of "POETS INTERNATIONAL", a monthly journal of short verse being published from India since 21 years.He is the author of "The Star of Formosa, Lee Kuei-shien, Greatest Poet of Taiwan".