People say that you tend to recall things happened in early years more once you grow old because it is human characteristic to remember the beauty of previous experience. Whenever we feel pressure of work or fatigued from hard and fast daily life, the memory of carefree childhood will emerge in our mind since during the old time, life was not as complicated as what it is now.
Children’s hearts are sensitive, their minds are open to accept all good things. Recently I came across a book called Little Poets in Mountains (《大山里的小诗人》, dà shān lǐ de xiǎo shī rén) and found it fun to read. On the occasion of children’s day (儿童节，ér tóng jié), how about calling the little child in you out again with these simple but wonderful poems?
诗一
zhǎngdà
长大
zhǎngdà shì yíjiàn hěn nán de shì
长大是一件很难的事
shàngyícì hé bàba māma gàobié de shíhòu
上一次和爸爸妈妈告别的时候
wǒ xuéhuì le rěnzhù bú kū
我学会了忍住不哭
wǒ jiù zhīdào
我就知道
zìjǐ zhǎngdà le
自己长大了
POEM ONE
Growing up
Growing up is a very difficult thing.
Last time when I said goodbye to mum and dad,
I learnt to hold my tears.
Then I knew,
I have grown up.
The collection of poems in the book are all written by the “left-behind” children (留守儿童, liú shǒu ér tóng) age from 7-15 years old whose parents have to go out from rural areas as migrant workers to big cities making a living. Growing up in children’ eye is a heavy matter; however, this little poet sees it in a positive way. He did not say what he wants to do when growing up but shoulders the responsibility of life. The emotion not to worry his parents far away is filled between lines.
诗二
mǎi bàba de yìtiān
买爸爸的一天
bàba tài máng le
爸爸太忙了
wǔmáo 、yìyuán
五毛、一元
wǒ yào cúnxià hěnduōhěnduō qián
我要存下很多很多钱
ránhòu mǎixià bàba de yìtiān
然后买下爸爸的一天
POEM TWO
Buying Father’s One Day
Father is too busy.
Fifty cent, one yuan,
I want to save a lot of moneyTo buy father’s one day.
The pain of separation seems to be less when the poet connects saving pocket money with father’s reunion. He is in the age when he needs parents most but already tasted the bitterness of life due to the absence of father and mother. There are not any words about loneliness but we feel it in the whole poem. This is what he wants to talk to his father in the form of a poem.
诗三
guāhúdāo刮胡刀
qiūtiān
秋天
shì dàdì de guāhúdāo
是大地的刮胡刀
fēng
风
shì tiānkōng de guāhúdāo
是天空的刮胡刀
POEM THREE
Shaver
AutumnIs earth’s shaver.
WindIs sky’s shaver.
In the group of left-behind children, most of them are the same as ordinary children, some of their mind are more mature than average. Optimistic, sensible, even magnanimous, they know to care for family and others. They find fun through hard life. This Shaver poem will make you believe in their unique and novel imagination and child of nature. It is just sometimes they are ignored by people that these children are also left behind.
诗四
xiànmù
羡慕
yèzǐ yìnián huàn sìcì yīfú
叶子一年换四次衣服
wǒ zhīyǒu sānjiàn yīfú
我只有三件衣服
POEM FOUR
Envy
Leaves change clothes four times during a year.
I only have three pieces of clothes.
Due to the lack of affection from parents, part of the left-behind children show emotional indifference, inferiority, cowardice, introverted personality, lack of initiative in love and communication. They are not good at talking, or have not meet people who really understand them though they are actually yearning for a happy childhood as well. Poems become the bridge of communication between them and their father or mother in outside world.
诗五
shānwài
山外
gāolóu dàshà
高楼大厦
yānhuā dēnghuǒ
烟花灯火
tīngshuō
听说
nàshì shān wài de chéngshì
那是山外的城市
POEM FIVE
Beyond Mountains
High buildings and huge mansions,
Fireworks and illuminations,
It is said,
Those are where beyond mountains.
The book Little Poets in Mountains is not only a poetry collection for public project, but also poetry full of children’s true emotions. Last year, this project was exhibited in big cities of China. POS Machines were designed to print out a poem after payment of 1 yuan instead of a receipt of numbers. Through this innovative form, children get donation by their own talents with dignity and will receive education in mountain areas. It is the best way for them to learn Chinese and I think each piece in the poetry worth reading!
