Jul 29, 2012 (Morning Edition) — Poet Ouyang Yu imagines an Olympic event in which he lifts up just one extraordinary word. "The magic of the word is that, when well lifted, it has the power to transform," Yu says.
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Wordlifting (Ron Tanovitz)
'Lifting,' And Lifted By, Words
by Ouyang Yu
Jul 29, 2012 (Morning Edition) — Poet Ouyang Yu imagines an Olympic event in which he lifts up just one extraordinary word. "The magic of the word is that, when well lifted, it has the power to transform," Yu says.
Poet Ouyang Yu comes to NPR's Poetry Games representing two continents: Asia, where he was born (in China); and Australia, where he moved in 1991. He is a prolific writer of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, literary translation and criticism in English and Chinese.
Of his poem "Lifting," he writes: "Much as I admire weightlifting heroes or heroines, I can't help reminding myself that, however powerful a weightlifter is, he or she can't lift himself or herself up. The magic of the word is that, when well lifted, it has the power to transform."
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About The Poetry GamesTo celebrate the Olympics we invited poets from around the globe to compose original works about athletes and athletics — and asked you to be the judges. Click here to read the winning poem.
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