Pu Liye – Chairman Xi’s Backside is Where My Gaze Lies

This week, we will really be the last poem in our short series on wierd poems. Today’s weird poem is one written by an editor at the Xinhua News Agency, China’s state-sponsored answer to Reuters or Bloomberg. Chairman Xi visited Xinhua and told them that the news needed to support the Party. During the visit, Pu wrote this poem, showing that he definitely supports the Party. 

Lee’s Translation

General Secretary, Your Backside is Where My Gaze Lies

This moment, there is thunderous applause. 

It is inundated like the noise from the cars at Xuanwumen. 

Today, we have finally met you face to face, 

and heard you, big brother with your earnest wishes. 

You smile and salute us: I wish everyone

a happy Chinese new year, I hope your Year of the Monkey will be lucky. 

General Secretary, your backside is where my gaze lies. 

My gaze midwifed this poem. 

My fingers are scorching my phone [as I type this poem]. 

This poem has brewed inside me so long, 

it has my insides,

it has blocked up my blood vessels and nerves, 

it has undulated over the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, 

it has run over the Great Wall of China,

it has followed the camel bells along the One Belt, One Road

and the mighty and warm wind of the great wheels fo the high-speed rail. 

Haha, this moment certainly has no

familiar starry sky with me writing this poem. 

I just see the inside and outside of the skyscraper filled with brightness. 

But the lines of the poem dance around my veins. 

General Secretary, your backside is where my gaze lies. 

Today, this vast area expresses its voice by asking how you are.

Today, this poem tears open my bosom. 

General Secretary, your backside is where my gaze lies. 

Your steps are vigorous, you lift your head and look forward. 

We can further the resoundingness of [your] voice. 

Marching forward on this journey towards a moderately prosperous society, 

Approaching that dream. 

Along the journey there will be trouble and shadows. 

Unperturbed, like today’s midday

when the smog could not could not block the fine weather. 

General Secretary, your backside is where my gaze lies,

mine and the gazes of my many esteemed colleagues at Xinhua News Agency. 

Original

总书记，您的背影我的目光

       此刻，雷鸣般的掌声

　　正淹没宣武门如潮的车辆

　　今天，我们终于零距离

　　听您大哥般语重心长

　　您微笑拱手：祝大家

　　新春快乐，猴年吉祥

　　总书记，您的背影我的目光

　　我的目光催生这首诗

　　我的手指正让手机滚烫

　　这首诗我酝酿了很久

　　快要刮肚搜肠

　　它拥堵我的血管与神经

　　它起伏在黄河长江

　　它奔跑在万里长城

　　它伴随一带一路的驼铃

　　以及巨轮高铁暖风浩荡

　　嘿嘿，此刻并没有

　　我写诗熟悉的星夜

　　就见大厦内外，满目光亮

　　可诗句环跳在我任督二脉上

　　总书记，你的背影我的目光

　　今天有大片向您问好声

　　今天有诗撕开我的胸腔

　　总书记，您的背影我的目光

　　您步履矫健昂首向前

　　我们会继续声音高亢

　　疾走在小康征程

　　越来越接近那个梦想

　　沿途也会有困扰和阴影

　　淡定，如同这个中午

　　雾霾挡不住天清气朗

　　总书记，您的背影我的目光

　　我和众多新华人崇敬的目光