19歲、在英國劍橋大學修讀經濟系的香港學生Eric Yip,奪得今屆英國國家詩歌比賽(National Poetry Competition)冠軍,成為該比賽歷來最年輕冠軍得主。其作品主題涉及殖民、種族、移民、歸屬及離鄉內疚之情,評審讚揚作品能令讀者代入以英語為第二語言者的處境。
得獎詩歌題為《Fricatives》,即語言中的「擦音」如「f」和「th」,表達母語非英語者學習英語時的障礙。
評審之一的Fiona Benson指,作品講述了「既有力又脆弱」、關於「同化和政府監控」的故事,而作品包含的正面元素––體面的成就、正確的發音、外國的良好教育和自豪的家長,與負面元素––政治犯身處的地下社會、危險冷酷的性行為形成強烈對比。
Eric對得獎表示震驚,指「詩歌絕對是隨住年紀增長會更加精進的一門藝術」,而自己現在才19歲,「我視得獎為起步,鼓勵我繼續寫作、繼續進步」。他又表示,對於用英語寫香港有點內疚,因香港是自己的家、自己的文化根源。
英國國家詩歌比賽是英詩界每年的盛事,由1978年舉辦至今,不少知名詩人都曾奪得這個比賽的冠軍。
得獎作品英語全文:
《Fricatives》 Eric Yip
To speak English properly, Mrs Lee said, you must learn
the difference between three and free. Three men
escaped from Alcatraz in a rubber raft and drowned
on their way to Angel Island. Hear the difference? Try
this: you fought your way into existence. Better. Look
at this picture. Fresh yellow grains beaten
till their seeds spill. That’s threshing. That’s
submission. You must learn to submit
before you can learn. You must be given
a voice before you can speak. Nobody wants to listen
to a spectacled boy with a Hong Kong accent.
You will have to leave this city, these dark furrows
stuffed full with ancestral bones. Know
that death is thorough. You will speak of bruised bodies
skinnier than yours, force the pen past batons
and blood, call it fresh material for writing. Now
they’re paying attention. You’re lucky enough
to care about how the tongue moves, the seven types
of fricatives, the articulatory function of teeth
sans survival. You will receive a good education
abroad and make your parents proud. You will take
a stranger’s cock in your mouth in the piss-slick stall
of that dingy Cantonese restaurant you love and taste
where you came from, what you were made of all along.
Put some work into it, he growls. C’mon, give me
some bite. Your mother visits one October, tells you
how everyone speaks differently here, more proper.
You smile, nod, bring her to your favourite restaurant,
order dim sum in English. They’re releasing
the students arrested five years ago. Just a tad more
soy sauce please, thank you. The television replays
yesterday on repeat. The teapots are refilled. You spoon
served rice into your mouth, this perfect rice.
Steamed, perfect, white.