Poetry Friday – Introducing the Pipa, the poet’s favorite Chinese musical instrument

Today is Poetry Friday and thanks to this week’s host Katya Czaja of Write. Sketch. Repeat. for posting about kenning poetry.

But before I get to my poetry post, I’m delighted to announce that I will be reading the Poetry Blast at ALA!  I’ll be reading my poems in the company of some truly amazing poets including Marilyn Singer, Nikki Grimes, Margarita Engle, and Jacqueline Woodson, and many more!  I’m so honored!!

This week I’m talking a little about formatting a poem & sharing a Chinese music performance video from my first book launch party in April.  Video is at the very bottom and features the pipa, also known as the Chinese lute. Here’s an excerpt about the pipa from my picture book Summoning the Phoenix: Poems & Prose about Chinese Musical Instruments:

“The pipa is one of the most popular Chinese instruments and is a favorite for poets to write about and to play….Because it was commonly played for folksongs, the pipa is called the king of Chinese folk music.”

Here’s the original final draft of my poem about the pipa that was sent to my illustrator:

Conquering Stage Fright

My pipa curves
into my lap.
It’s not easy to balance
if I’m wearing a skirt
made of silk
like my concert dress.

But in performance,
I look only at the strings.
Each note must be
perfectly plucked.
Each chord must be
seamlessly strummed.

Sometimes I whisper
encouraging words
to my pipa
so it won’t slip
out of my lap.

Everything is left-justified.  But when the designer of my book centered the lines, I liked it much better:

Conquering Stage Fright

My pipa curves
into my lap.
It’s not easy to balance
if I’m wearing a skirt
made of silk
like my concert dress.

But in performance,
I look only at the strings.
Each note must be
perfectly plucked.
Each chord must be
seamlessly strummed.

Sometimes I whisper
encouraging words
to my pipa
so it won’t slip
out of my lap.

Because I feel like the form of the poem evokes and echoes the curved shape of the pipa.  Here’s April Chu’s beautiful companion artwork for this poem:

pipa

Can I say how much I love that this girl is mixed race?  And she’s on a swing above her audience!  Really heightens the tension in the poem.

Finally, I’d like to share a video of Christine playing the pipa at my first book party at Borderlands Books:

Want to hear more awesome Chinese musical instruments?  There’s one more Summoning the Phoenix book party left in the San Francisco Bay Area:

Saturday, May 3rd, 3:00-5:00 PM
Hicklebee’s, 1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, California
***In celebration of California Bookstore Day***
RSVP to Hicklebee’s in San Jose on Facebook

4 thoughts on “Poetry Friday – Introducing the Pipa, the poet’s favorite Chinese musical instrument”

  1. Emily, congratulations on your upcoming reading and the beautiful book! I love the poem, which is only enhanced by the illustration. All the best as you promote this beautiful book! Enjoyed the pipa demo too.

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