POETRY

The Language Asleep in the Edge of Dusk
— POEM by Anna Keiko
(Translated from Chinese)

Behind the sleeping language,

You left your voice in the scorching sun,

Like a secret written on the back of the wind,

And the sky never had time to read it.

This dusk—

It’s not just colors breaking at the edge of the horizon,

But your soul blazing in the silence,

Whispering longing in an untranslated script.

You paint love in a silent language:

The setting sun as a metaphor for parting,

The mountain as a chest patiently bearing the sky’s wounds,

And light—oh, light—

Is the eye still searching for your shadow,

Among the valleys of unslumbered memories.

I want to be the word,

That wakes up in your poem,

Touching the corner of your lips when you read me in your heart,

Like a gentle yearning

Stroking your hair on an unformed morning.

Our love—

Is an ancient language that needs no translation,

Just tremors, just flames,

Just breaths waiting for each other,

At the edge of the slowly,

Closing eyes of dusk.

….

(Self-translation from CHINESE)

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Anna Keiko

Anna Keiko, a distinguished poetess and essayist from Shanghai, China, has made a profound impact on contemporary literature. A graduate of Shanghai East China University with a Bachelor’s degree in Law, she has achieved global recognition for her poetry, with a translation into more than 30 languages and published in over 500 journals, magazines, and media outlets across the world.

Keiko is the founder and chief editor of the ACC Shanghai Huifeng Literature Association and serves as a Chinese representative and director of the International Cultural Foundation Ithaca. Her affiliations extend to Immagine & Poesia in Italy and the Canadian-Cuban Literary Union, reflecting her commitment to fostering cross-cultural literary exchanges.

Anna Keiko’s poetic oeuvre spans six collections, including “Lonely in the Blood and Absurd Language”, showcasing her exploration of human emotions, environmental concerns, and existential themes. Her innovative style and evocative imagery have earned her numerous accolades, such as the 30th International Poetry Award in Italy and the World Peace Ambassador Certificate in 2024. Notably, she was the first Chinese recipient of the Cross-Cultural Exchange Medal for Significant Contribution to World Poetry, awarded in the United States in 2023.

Her works, including “Octopus Bones” and other acclaimed poems, have resonated with readers worldwide, garnering invitations to prominent international poetry festivals and conferences.

Anna Keiko’s dedication to the arts extends beyond poetry, encompassing prose, essays, lyrics, and drama, underscoring her versatility as a writer. Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020, Anna Keiko continues to break barriers, bringing Chinese literature to the global stage.

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