objectification and the long-short line 265objectifying the phenomenon of (written) language usage, through at-
tention to its concrete tools (ink, pen, paper) and literary and linguistic
terms such as metaphor, subject and adverbial modifier. The effect, however,
is weakened by passages that seem grandiloquent and pompous when
compared to other “event” poems. The lines are exceptionally long,
even by Yu Jian’s standards; from here on, as in chapter Six, citations
are in smaller type and occasionally require indentation.^21
writing this is the most glorious event of an era the death and revival of words high-
way or pitfall
magnificent details right where a word emerges from obstruction its original form fully
revealed to reach a predestined position in fateIn «Event: Writing», the intensity and commitment that shape Yu
Jian’s reflection on his art get in the way of his poetic talent. The poem
never quite takes off in the way that other “event” poems do, weighed
down as it is by abstractions, conceptualizations and explanations. It is
theory rather than practice and explicit poetics rather than poetry.
The “event” formula is highly effective in «Event: Paving» (џӊg
䫎䏃, 1990), because this poem shows rather than tells:^22
«Event: Paving»
walking on the newly paved road the workers push the tool cart
dragging sledgehammers behind them shovels pickaxes wobbling on their heads
every road is now paved coming into town
this is the last bit of bad road a tear in the beautiful carpet
threatening the feet raising worries for actions like strolling comfortably
everything must be flattened roads and the falls and crashes that stem from them
old words like medicinal liquor barefoot mudhole and caved-in
will be replaced by even and regular both shining with bitumen brilliance
this is a good thing it’s in the plan the workers get to work
wielding tools meticulous measurements devoted as if paving new vistas
this road is uneven full of bumps and holes its geology isn’t constant either
with some stretches guarded by basalt some places harassed by water
in one spot the twisted roots of an old tree that took 300 years to raise this clan
the hoe is a wonderful thing it will dig out anything flatten it out
turn high into low even out any cavities(^21) Yu Jian 2004a: 278-279.
(^22) Yu Jian 2004a: 240-241.