Podcasts

Chinese Poetry: ‘Dad’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ by Yu Yoyo

Featuring: Dave Haysom, A K Blakemore, Yu Yoyo

Translated by Dave Haysom with A K Blakemore.

Born in 1990, Sichuanese poet Yu Yoyo had already begun to earn critical attention before she turned sixteen, publishing dozens of poems in Poetry, Poetry Monthly and other prestigious publications in China. She studied business management and accounting in university, but never gave up on her long-standing passion for poetry and finally embraced her life’s calling upon graduation. She is now seen as a representative voice among the post-90’s generation, especially known for her mature voice and subtle treatment of modern femininity. She has two collections published in China Seven Years (2012) and Me as Bait (2018)

Dave Haysom is a literary translator and editor who has been living in Beijing since 2007. He first started publishing translations online at spittingdog.net in 2012. He has also written articles and essays on contemporary Chinese literature for publications such as Words Without Borders and China Dialogue. His portfolio is online at spittingdog.net.

A K Blakemore is the author of two full-length poetry collections - Humbert Summer published by Eyewear in 2015 and Fondue from Offord Road Books in 2018) - and one pamphlet, pro ana with if a leaf falls in 2016). She is the author of The Manningtree Witches which won the Desmond Elliot Prize 2021.