Hong Kong writer Wong Leung-wo tells Joey Li why he’s part of the forthcoming International Poetry Nights festival in the city
 

Wong Leung-wo is a big name when it comes to modern Chinese poetry. The Hong Kong heavyweight in form, character and style is known for his emotionally evocative use of language in exploring subjects such as life and death, the transience of human relationships and the subtleties of daily life. Yet he still sports an air of utter amiability and tenderness, modestly unwilling to play on his status as a celebrated exponent of modern Chinese verse.

The poet, whose last anthology was Problem of Time, is appearing in International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong 2011, a four-day festival of ode and verse, taking place between November 10 and 13. It follows on from the success of the pilot fest in 2009 and is billed as a ‘gala in celebration of poetry and poets’. A total of 20 famous poets from around the globe will participate – ‘the biggest international gathering in the history of Hong Kong’.

Wong takes part in a panel discussion on Hong Kong poetry and its limitations at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on November 11, and also recites some of his works at the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity Multi-media Theatre in Kowloon on November 12, along with renowned names like Vivek Narayanan. There’re readings in different languages, from an array of cultural backgrounds.

Wong tells us that Poetry Nights is important to Hong Kong as it is conducive to the exchange of poetic language in the city. “In one way,” he says, “we can be inspired by and learn more about mutual poetic language from a mixture of different languages, by listening to a poet reciting his or her own poem. Poetry reading conducted in a poet’s mother tongue attaches a more original, authentic feel, which transcends what the poem itself expresses. The event allows people to have a direct contact with the poet, to listen to his voice, to see him and feel what he’s like, enhancing one’s emotional experience and the power of the poetic language. It may also provide a different perspective on interpretation of a poem.”

Wong has won 12 creative writing awards. His talents were first acknowledged at the age of 15, when he won the seventh Youth Literary Award in Hong Kong. He also won the eighth and ninth. His only novel Curse of the Fish and his widely acclaimed book of modern verse Pomelo Lantern both won the Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature.

Wong says he believes that poetry is important to Hong Kong. He says Poetry Nights is in the city to remind Hongkongers of the great value of verse. “Material life is a basic need to everyone. However, hardly is it possible for one to be satisfied solely by his or her material life. Spiritual life and emotional exchange are equally important, both of which can be satisfied by poetry reading. The importance of poetry is like a light in the inky darkness.”

Poetry appreciation is not a passive process, says Wong. “Poetry is a literary genre full of  arbitrariness and ambiguities, emotionally evocative and open to multiple readings. Most poets are non-linear thinkers; there are often semantic gaps left out in a poem for readers’ imaginations. Poetry appreciation requires a reader’s active participation. It’s only with a reader’s imagination that the gaps can be filled.”
 

Problem of Time 時間問題 is published by Infolink Publishing Ltd, priced $48.
Poetry Nights is between November 10 and 13 at various venues. Highlights include the Masters and Mother Tongues panel discussion, 3.30pm-5.30pm on Nov 10, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a multi-poet Poetry Recitation, 7pm-8.30pm, on Nov 12, at HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity Multi-media Theatre. For more details check out www.ipnhk.com.