Daughters
by Ling Yü
Translated by Nicholas Y. H. Wong
Their swimming postures are unique
Some foam at the mouth, some angle their feet to the sky
But they don’t die
In the dauntlessly crashing waves——From Daughter W
Ling Yü’s lyrical and rhythmic poetry invites readers into meditations on feminine roles, family values, and the delicate balance between individuals and society. Her tender yet powerful verses reflect a deep connection to humanity, bridging cultural divides and resonating with readers of all ages.
Winner of the 2025 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature
Ling Yü’s language is economical and concise, yet surprising and reverberating with complex meaning. Her poetry engages thoughtfully with classical and modern, Eastern and Western literary, philosophical, artistic, and esoteric sources, generating outstanding works that require attention but are also intuitively grasped. Through her works, readers encounter a prism of rich, elegantly employed references that span themes of meditation, travel, feminism, capitalism, the environment, mythology and more.
—– Cosima Bruno (SOAS, London)
Taiwanese poet Ling Yü (零雨) dedicates her poetry collection Daughters to her mother. In these poems, she reflects on her relationship with her mother and her role as a daughter, offering intimate insight into her life as well as her thoughts on family, sickness, ageing, cultural customs and gender inequality. Through her distinctive use of brackets and long dashes, the poet adds an extra layer of personal immediacy. The line “But as a woman, I have zipped my mouth shut (You taught me well)” encapsulates her mother’s lasting influence. Ling’s seemingly simple diction — carefully and artistically rendered in Nicholas Y. H. Wong’s English translation — conveys complex emotions that heighten the poetic tension between obedience, irony and sorrow. The feelings that reverberate long after each reading testify to the “untrammeled, ingenious lyricism” which earned her the 2025 Newman Prize for Chinese literature.
— Audrey Heijns, part-time lecturer, Centre for China Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
ISBN: 978-1-913891-68-8
Publication date: 15 March 2025
Format: Paperback (Demy octavo) 216mm x 138mm
Pages: 146 pp
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