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[Cultural] Hosted Mr. and Mrs. Non-Ma in 2008Author: JEFFI CHAO HUI WU Time: July 13, 2025, Sunday, 7:36 AM ········································ [Culture] Reception of Mr. and Mrs. Feima in 2008
March 2008 was an incredibly unforgettable time in my life. On that cool autumn evening in the Southern Hemisphere, our Australian Rainbow Parrot International Writers' Association, in collaboration with the Sakai Garden Poetry Society, welcomed the renowned Chinese poet, translator, and sculptor from the United States—Mr. William Marr (Feima) and his wife. As one of the main planners and hosts of the event, I participated in this literary gathering that transcended language, culture, and national boundaries, personally accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Feima on tours of Sydney's major attractions and engaging in deep exchanges with local literary figures. This was not just an ordinary reception; it was a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures on Australian soil, a stirring experience, and a poetic memory etched in our hearts.
Long before Mr. Feima arrived in Sydney, I had learned a bit about him from various documents and predecessors. His real name is Ma Weiyi, born in Taichung, Taiwan. In his youth, he moved with his family to Chaozhou, Guangdong, and later went to the United States to study nuclear engineering, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Surprisingly, this scholar with a technical background ultimately blossomed in the world of poetry and art. He has published fourteen bilingual poetry collections, with works translated into multiple languages, and has served as the president of the Illinois State Poets Society and a member of the Chicago Poets Club, actively contributing to the American art scene with his sculptures and paintings.
On the evening of March 6, under the lights of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, we held a welcome dinner for Mr. and Mrs. Feima. That night, the atmosphere was gentle, with palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the group photos taken under the lights are still vividly imprinted in my mind: in the photo, I stand on the lawn in front of the Sydney Opera House with Mr. and Mrs. Feima, Miss Medusa, Mr. Wu Hanxuan, and others, all smiling brightly. This was not just a group photo; it symbolized the poetic intersection of East and West. Mr. Feima, dressed in a simple white trench coat, and his wife, modest and humble, could not hide the cultural depth and artistic confidence radiating from within.
In the following days, we arranged several exchange and visit activities. From March 7 to 8, we held a formal welcome ceremony at the Sakai Garden Poetry Society and among the Chinese literary community in Sydney, with representatives from major literary organizations, newspaper editors, and poets filling the venue. Attendees included: He Yuhua, Vice President of the Sydney Chinese Writers Association; Xue Yang, President of the Sakai Garden Poetry Society; Chen Jiming, Vice President; Bingfu, founding president; Xi Tong, founding president; Jin Sheng, President of the Australian Chinese Writers Association; Mr. Li Fuqi, Honorary President of the Australian Chinese Writers Association; Li Jinglin, President of the New South Wales Chinese Writers Association; senior Australian writers Ma Bai, Liu Zhanqiu; renowned Chinese broadcasters Mr. and Mrs. Li Pu; Wu Chaohui, President of the Australian Rainbow Parrot International Writers' Association; Mei Zhi, Vice President; Mr. and Mrs. Wu Di, Honorary President; senior writers Chen Debiao, Li Ruqing, and other literary friends and newspaper reporters.
Mr. Feima not only shared his experiences in Chinese and American literary translation and creation but also brought his recent poetry works and engaged in interactive discussions with the guests present. His clear logic and rhythmically rich language expression inspired all the listeners. Even during the translation segment, his style of freely traversing Eastern and Western cultures, blending emotion and reason, was deeply admirable.
In addition to literary activities, I personally accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Feima to explore Sydney's natural beauty, including the famous Coogee Beach and the coastline dotted with unique rock formations. Amidst the blue sea and sky, we captured precious group photos together. Mr. Feima stood by the rocks, gazing at the distant horizon, his expression calm and focused, as if drawing inspiration from the grandeur of nature. He is not a person of many words, but each of his statements is rich in meaning, combining the meticulousness of a scientist with the unique spiritual sensitivity of a poet. In our conversations, he frequently mentioned the sources of his writing inspiration, how he distills the poetic essence from the details of real life and the subtle changes in nature.
During those days, I also deeply realized that a true cultural person does not need external packaging. Mr. Feima's simple attire and humble demeanor earned him the respect of everyone due to the depth of his works and the weight of his character. His wife was equally gentle and kind, always responding with a smile to the curiosity and questions from our local literary friends, showing no airs. This approachable demeanor allowed them to leave a high reputation in the Australian Chinese literary scene in just a few days.
The success of this reception was not only due to my meticulous arrangements but also thanks to the close cooperation and enthusiastic response from various literary organizations in Australia at that time. From poet Chen Debiao and Li Ruqing to journalist Chen Ruitian and host Wang Jinsheng, everyone's involvement made this event feel like a grand cultural festival. During the poetry society gatherings, we recited and analyzed poems together, reviewed the development of poetry in China and the U.S., and exchanged publishing experiences and creative ideas. The richness and depth of that atmosphere are still fondly remembered.
My interaction with Mr. and Mrs. Feima was not just an exchange during an event but a spiritual stirring. His arrival not only injected new vitality into the Australian Chinese literary community but also made me rethink: as a literary person, how should one face the world? Should we bring poetry into our lives? Can we find a path that belongs to ourselves while engaging in dialogue with the world between reality and ideals? Mr. Feima has provided the answer through his life.
To this day, that series of photos is still preserved on the Australian Rainbow Parrot and Changfeng Information websites, and those written reports and photos witness a moment of cultural connection across the ocean. As a witness, I always remember that poetic time: in 2008, Sydney, we welcomed a truly world-class poet and a dialogue of souls.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. Feima was not only a distinguished guest poet who visited Sydney that year but has also long served as a key resident writer for our "Australian Rainbow Parrot International Writers' Association." To date, he has published 555 works on the forum, generating 1,482 interactive replies, demonstrating his strong appeal and profound influence in the global Chinese poetry scene.
Among them, the "Eighth Online Works Seminar" held in mid-November 2008, themed "Is Feima Flying?" was specifically dedicated to Mr. Feima's works, becoming one of the classic cases of online literary exchange. These valuable records are still fully preserved on the Australian Rainbow Parrot Literary Network and the Australian Changfeng Information Network, witnessing that glorious time of cultural intersection and poetic stirring.
The Sydney literary community warmly welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Feima. The original post link is as follows:
Australian Rainbow Parrot website:
https://www.azchy.com/chinese/Au_caihongying/News/2008march_feima.htm.htm
Australian Changfeng Forum:
https://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=66534
On the evening of March 6, 2008, Mr. Wu Chaohui and others from the Australian Rainbow Parrot International Writers' Association hosted the renowned Chinese poet Mr. Feima and his wife from the United States.
From left: Mrs. Wu Di, Mr. and Mrs. Feima, Mr. Wu Di, Miss Mei Zhi, Mr. Wu Chaohui
[Photo taken across from the Sydney Opera House]
From left: Mr. and Mrs. Feima, Mr. and Mrs. Wu Di, Miss Mei Zhi, Mr. Wu Chaohui [at Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia]
Above: The Sakai Garden Poetry Society and the Sydney Chinese Writers Association warmly welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Feima's visit to Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. Feima (front row, seats 6 and 7), Du Juan (back row, left 2), Wu Di (front row, seat 3), Wu Chaohui (back row, right 3)
From left: Mr. Wu Chaohui, Mr. Li Ruqing, Mr. Chen Debiao, Mr. Li Pu, Mr. Li Fuqi
From left: Mr. Li Jinglin, Mr. Wu Chaohui
From left: Mr. Xue Yang, Mr. Wu Chaohui, Mr. Li Pu
From left: Mr. Wu Di, Mr. Bingfu, Mr. Wu Chaohui Source: https://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696834 |
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