A major problem in Chinese literature today, at least for the foreign reader, is a dearth of translated works of modern fiction, plays and poetry. The word is being written in China, but finding someone to tell you what that word is, is a different story. Fortunately there are publications like The Dirty Goat, a biannual literary journal that focuses on translating and publishing literary works from around the world. In Vol. 24, the journal features a number of Chinese poets, and what they write is an interesting glimpse into a landscape we wish we were more familiar with.

We were surprised to discover the translator, Nick Kaldis, has done justice to the works, and they flow in a natural, unstilted way difficult to achieve in translated poetry. Poets Hu Dong, Han Dong, Zhu Fengming, Yu Jian, Zhu Yongliang and Song Lin write in very different styles, and their words swing from witty and wry to flowery and borderline pretentious, penning verse about love, life and, in Zhu Fengming’s “Meteor Account,” celestial bodies and their earthly counterparts. Their writings are fascinating in and of themselves, and are complemented by an international selection of literary works.

DETAILS

What: The Dirty Goat, Vol. 24

Where: Available at www.thedirtygoat.com

How much: US$13 including shipping