Xu Lizhi – A Screw Falls to the Ground

Today, we look at the somber poem of a Foxconn worker, Xu Lizhi. His poem, “A Screw Falls to the Ground,” is a masterclass of how modern Chinese poetry is able to live up to the standards set by classical Chinese poetry. In this episode, I try to discuss what role the author’s biography plays in how we interpret their poetry.

Resources for those experiencing a mental health crisis

My Translation:

A screw falls to the ground

on this night of overtime

landing vertically, making a quiet quiet sound

it will not draw anybody’s attention

just like before

on a similar night

a person fell to the ground

一颗螺丝掉在地上

在这个加班的夜晚

垂直降落，轻轻一响

不会引起任何人的注意

就像在此之前

某个相同的夜晚

有个人掉在地