Friends as well as verses are made as Taipei rolls out a green carpet of laurel for the Second world Congress of Poets
Poetry and peace were the key words at the Second World Congress of Poets in Taipei last November. Peace was the recurring theme of poems read at the Congress and published in Taipei newspapers along with full reports of the meetings. President Chiang Kai-shek's message noted that the purpose of the Congress was to achieve "World Brotherhood and Peace through Poetry. "
"From very ancient times till today," the President said, "China has put great emphasis on poetry and poetic education... Chinese poets are highly respected and deeply loved by their compatriots... In order to rebuild the character of mankind, and to promote world peace, it is necessary for poets of the world to voice our common ideal, to praise the brightness of freedom, to extol justice and righteousness in accordance with the aims of this Congress and to struggle bravely forward without fear."
The opening address was given by Chung Ting-wen, president of the Chinese Poets Association, who was chosen to preside over Congress. "Today is the birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Founding Father of the Republic of China, as well as Chinese Cultural Renaissance Day," he said. "This gives added meaning to this historic gathering of world poets at this time and in this place."
Several busloads of Congress delegates later visited the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and paid their respects to the founder of Asia's first republic. They also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Martyrs' Shrine.
Minister of Education Y.S. Tsiang told the Congress: "If home education constitutes the base of all education, Confucius believed poetry was the cornerstone of home education. The Chinese have since childhood been immersed in the atmosphere of poetry as a means of education which cultivates a gentle, humane temperament and a reserved, peaceful character."
Dr. Amado M. Yuzon (of the Philippines), president of the United Poets Laureate International, one of the co-sponsors, said: "We have come here to rally in a united front for the cause of humanity, to reiterate as one man and one world our faith and dedication to the objectives of the First World Congress of Poets, held in Manila in 1969 - that is, 'World Brotherhood and Peace Through Poetry.'
"This cause calls for concerted action, for militant implementation, not on the battlefield of an armed conflict but in the lilting Parnassus of poets, where the pen, the lyre and the silver tongue can be the only consistent weapons in the entire campaign.
"We are called upon from the various regions of the universe, to unite, indeed, as one man and one world irrespective of race, creed, or ideology, to help other forces and institutions in the pursuit of a common destiny, a common brotherhood of men and nations for the peace and happiness of all mankind."
Dr. Margarita Ausala of Free Latvia declared that freedom of expression is every man's birthright and that no man should be deprived of the right to express his thoughts, as the people in the countries behind the Iron Curtain are today.
The Congress elected 44 Chancellors, 41 Floor Leaders (to assist members who spoke from the floor during plenary sessions) and 15 Judges. Each Chancellor served as chairman of a meeting. They were:
Argentina - Maria Elisa Echenique Posse. Australia - P. Brian Cox, Bertha A. Johnstone. Cambodia - Ok Nall. Canada - Arved Viirlaid. Cyprus - Costas Montis. Denmark - Jorgen Sonne. Dominican Republic - Enriquillo Rojas Abreu. France - Yves Gandon. Germany - Wolfgang Durben. Hong Kong - Wang Shih Chao, Hsu Yu. Free Hungary - Jeno Platthy. India - Krishna Srinivas. Indonesia - Taufiq Ismail. Japan - Akira Shimaoka. Korea - Cho Byung Hwa, Moh Young Sook. Free Latvia - Margarita Ausala.
Luxembourg - Domenico M. Morina. Malaysia - Ismail Hussein, Bernard Woon Swee Tin. Malta - Amante Buontempo. Nicaragua - Pablo Antonio Cuadra. Pakistan - Peshoten S. Dubash. Panama - Agustin Del Rosario. Portugal - Arthur Lambert de Fonseca. Philippines - Amado M. Yuzon. Saudi Arabia - Sheikh Kan'an M.M. Khatib. Thailand - Pan Kung-fu. Turkey - Yaldizciyan Zareh. Uruguay - Edison Bouchaton.
United States - Mary F. Lindsley, California; Lou LuTour, New York; Mabelle A. Lyon, Arizona; Loretta Jean Skibbe, Maryland; Marjorie L. Yelton, Texas.
Republic of China - Chang Wei-han, Chen Feng-huan, Li Chien-hsing, Ho Nan-shih, Yi Ta-teh, Wang Ta-jen, Ho Chih-hao, Tso Hsu-ping, Chi Hsuan, Chung Lei, Ma Kung-chun.
Reading of poems by members followed the first day's business session. Poems were in native languages and not usually translated into English or Chinese. Principal speeches were translated into English if in Chinese, or into Chinese if in English. Printed copies of main speeches were made available in English. Hosts at the first banquet were Dr. Tsiang Yien-si, the minister of education, and Dr. Fredrick F. Chien, director-general of the Government Information Office. Costumes and dances of ancient Chinese dynasties were presented at the College of Chinese Culture after the dinner.
Over a hundred overseas members were registered from 43 different countries. More than 200 local members joined them in plenary sessions at the Grand Hotel and in other activities.
Registration provided the first chance for members to meet and talk, perhaps even to exchange home addresses. Later members were sometimes to meet over the book tables. Occasionally autographed books and magazines were exchanged. Most materials were on display throughout the Congress, then were presented to the Second Congress for further exhibition and safekeeping.
Seatmates visited with one another during the frequent bus trips away from the Grand Hotel. Friendly university students who spoke English and several other languages were assigned as escorts for each overseas guest. At the registration center in the Grand Hotel, Miss Margaret Wu and other students saw to it that delegates had badges and were given any other assistance required. If a problem baffled the student aides, Dr. Hsu Fu-teh, chief of protocol and deputy secretary-general of the Congress, came forward to help.
Taipei newspapers carried reports of Congress activities and a variety of poems were published in the English-language China Post. "Moments" by Costas Montis of Cyprus expressed the purpose of the Congress in these opening lines:
"Newborn children of the whole world, fair, dark, black, yellow,come to the show, come on to the stage."
Many poems took note of Taiwan and its friendly people. "The Impression of Taiwan" by Rosemary Clifford Trott of the United States was inspired by an early morning visit to the Confucius Temple in Taipei:
Under a silver sky.
The Temple of Confucius stands.
A symbol of a Mind.
Which dwells in Chinese hearts.
Two thousand years have passed.
Since he lived in flesh.
Yet gentleness and peace,
Philosophy of Kindness
Go down through time,
Because he walked the realm of earth.
Now, in a Temple courtyard,
Some hundred poets are immersed
In contemplation,
Meeting the thoughts he left
Like blossoms in the yearning atmosphere.
Who seeks the high, the most divine,
Has learned that quality of thought
Is the highest reach of Man.
Oh. Bird. who flies above
And drops a feather here,
You are a word he spoke,
Which drifts into our minds.
Dr. Lou LuTour, president of the World Poets' Resource Center Inc. of New York City and its affiliated Eastern Center of the Poetry Society of London, presided at the second session. Dr. Yuzon of the Philippines presented a trophy from United Poets Laureate International to the Chinese Poets Association for its sponsorship of the Congress. World Poets and United Poets were co-sponsors along with the World Poetry Society Intercontinental, headed by Dr. Krishna Srinivas of India and the Board of Editors of International Who's' Who in Poetry, represented by Dr. Ernest Kay of the United Kingdom, president and general editor.
Professor Hsin Kuang-Tsu, dean of the Graduate School of English Language and Literature, College of Chinese Culture, spoke on the poetry and music of China. "The old sayings," he observed, "that 'music also includes soundless music,' 'heavenly music' and 'having no sound is better than having sound,' prove that the beauty of Chinese poetry also lies in its invisible musical quality."
Delegates went to the National Palace Museum to see the art treasures and hear Dr. George Yeh, ROC minister without portfolio, speak on "Poetry and Painting." "Chinese poetry and painting are inseparable." he said. "A Chinese painting is often coupled with a poem by the artist himself, or with poems by its collectors." The poems on the painting usually reveal the mood of the painter and the content of the painting. Dr. Yeh discussed differences among Shih, Fu and Tzu forms of Chinese poetry.
A Mongolian barbecue was held at the Badminton Club the evening of the second day with Chen Yu-ching, president of the Chinese Center, International P.E.N. and Dr. Chung Ting-wen as hosts. Delegates went to the Shih Chien College of Home Economics to hear Chinese poets read their own works.
Professor Thome H. Fang spoke on "Poetry and Life" as the third day opened. "Poetry is an expression of life in terms of creative imagination which will bud into beauty," he said. "Lao Tzu. a great Chinese philosopher, said: 'We are conducting a perennial search for the mystery of life.' Confucius said: 'It is a vindication of creative life conducive to the achievement of greatness by men.'"
Members were pleasantly surprised to learn that Baltimore, Maryland, had extended an invitation, which was subsequently accepted, to host the Third World Congress of Poets in 1976.
For Loretta Jean Skibbe, poet delegate from Baltimore, this was "a dream come true." Her attendance at the Taipei Congress was made possible by a committee of Baltimore businessmen following the slogan: "Unite Culture and Industry to Promote Peace and Understanding." She carried with her an "invitational brochure" including letters from Maryland's Governor Marvin Mandel and Baltimore's Mayor William Donald Schaefer.
Another agreeable surprise was the reading of a poem by Prince Adbullah Al Faisal Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by his official representative, Kan'an M.M. Khatib of Jedda. Sheikh Khatib read the Prince's message with eloquence and accepted a crown of laurel wreath.
"It pleases me to send profound greetings from my country to all peace-loving peoples who cherish their moral values and honorable customs," Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Al Saud said, "hoping that you receive them with the same sentiments and feelings."
In another paragraph, he said, "You are my colleagues in this realm of dreamy words and sensitive feelings with pristine consciences that are always alert to the tunes of love." He concluded: "As you know, poetry is the true expression of the profound sentiments if we manage to interpret these feelings sincerely. If we manage to do this, we deserve the title of poets."
Dr. Chung Ting-wen received the gifts from the Prince, including a sword of fine gold, a gold plated silver sword, a dagger of fine gold, a silver dagger coated with gold and two incense burners of silver. Gifts went to the sponsors and co sponsors of the Congress.
Ku Cheng-kang, president of the WACL/APACL China Chapter, and leaders of national civic organizations were hosts at the third-day dinner. The evening's entertainment was a Chinese opera, "The Fisherman's Revenge," produced live in the studios of TTV. Program sheets in English explained the historical importance of Peiping opera and helped the audience understand the drama enacted by performers who were all gold medal winners.
Discussion of proposals and resolutions, awards and closing ceremonies occupied the final day. Then came trips to Sun Moon Lake and the provincial capital near Taichung or the offshore island of Kinmen (Quemoy). The farewell dinner was hosted by Li Chien Hsing, president of the Union of Chinese Poetry Clubs, who remarked that "A world of harmony and equality is the common hope of all peoples."
These were among the poems presented at the Congress:
GIVE ME YOUR HAND
Give me your hand
In warmth and friendliness,
And I will help you
Through the dark of morning
And star-splintered cascades of doubt.
Man shadows the mist
Searching for a rim of hope,
The song of our years
Becomes worded illusion
Of laughter and tears.
At the clasp of a hand
Deep hunger stirs the blood,
Leaps beyond the boundaries of clay,
Finds the depths of the human heart.
And reaches across the world.
GIVE ME YOUR HAND!
-Mary E. Cox, U.S.A.
TAIPEI ARRIVAL
I depart the U.S.A. in sunshine
To fly with a happy heart to Taipei,
All is beautiful,
I am at peace.
Above the Pacific
The sun is lost in clouds
Thick as cotton bolls.
I am lonely.
We bump down to landing on a damp run way
Sun still hiding.
Then wonderful Chinese friends
Find me at airport
Find my luggage
And the sun shines
all around me
Through their beautiful smiles and warm hands.
-Mabelle A. Lyon, U.S.A.
A DREAM COMES TRUE
To be a part of the unbelievable beauty that is captured here
Fills my heart with overflowing love for Taipei,
City of splendor!
City of beauty!
City of the elegant! Mixture of things past and things to come!
I truly love you all for your kindness to me.
- Dr. Marion E. Darrell. U.S.A.