International PEN Poem Relay
This is the official website of the International PEN China Campaign Poem Relay
Celebrating Linguistic Diversity and Carrying the Torch for Freedom of Expression in China
The poem 'June' by imprisoned Chinese poet and journalist Shi Tao is relaying around the world, country to country, language to language, until it reaches Beijing for the Olympics in August.
PEN Centres around the world have translated 'June' to over 90 (and still counting) of the world's languages.
When the poem arrives at a new location, you can read and hear a new translation.
On April 23, while the Olympic torch gets ready for its relay run through Canberra, Australia, the poem goes to the Philippines, where it is translated to nine local languages!
Click on a location on the map to see when the poem is due.
Yellow pins mark the current location of the poem
Red pins mark previous poem locations
Blue pins mark upcoming poem locations
There may be more than one translation into your language. Type in a language in the search window to locate the translations you want to read and hear.
Juneby Shi Tao My whole life Will never get past “June” June, the scorching sun burns open my skin Translated to English from Chinese by Chip Rolley. Listen to the poem in English |
Listen to the poem in Mandarin |
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