Arthur Bull

The Blue Mat: Poems After Yang Wanli: (Softcover: $15: ISBN-13: 978-1-68114-397-2; Hardcover: $30: ISBN-13: 978-1-68114-398-9; EBook: $2.99: ISBN-13: 978-1-68114-399-6; LCCN: 2017915768; Edited by Mitchell Postich; Poetry—Canadian; Release: January 15, 2018; Purchase on Amazon or Barnes & Noble): These poems are written in the spirit of Yang Wanli, one of the four major poets of the Southern Song Dynasty in China. Each poem touches on the miraculous detail of everyday experience, following Yang Wanli’s iconoclastic attention to the ordinary, in keeping with his practice of Chan Buddhism. In addition to the translations, adaptations and original poems inspired by Yang Wanli, there are also a number of translations of poems by the late Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu.

“Arthur Bull’s mantra, meditation and musing all poetic feels exactly like that of his long departed Chinese partners in crime. Except they contain some of the scraps and flotsam and jetsam of our so called modern world. Bull does capture, very succinctly, our slow march against time and circumstance. It’s all done carefully as mice and with admirable brevity… Arthur Bull has done a remarkable thing with Blue Mat, Poems After Yang Wanli. Bull has brought two Chinese poets, long part of the ether, back to life and respected them with his beautiful homage. We should all be so kind to our heroes. Blue Mat, Poem After Yang Wanli was nothing but pleasure. Arthur Bull writes the simple line, with the weight of the world hovering.” —Today’s Book of Poetry, Michael Dennis, April 29, 2018

Arthur Bull lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has previously published three books of poetry, as well as four chapbooks. His poems and translations from classical Chinese have appeared in numerous Canadian and international journals. Bull is also a musician, and has worked for a number of small-scale fishery organizations.