Of Flesh & Spirit

by Wang Ping

Life interpreted, written, and emulated in the style of the Tao, spiced with experiences of NYC.

Genres: Poetry

104 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

Born in Shanghai and grew up in the East China Sea. Love the body of water, its sound and smell, love the touch of the muddy beach and golden sand.

Reviews

[Bryan Worra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wang Ping's Of Flesh & Spirit takes you on a great journey, as most of her books do. She opens this collection with "Syntax," noting "Language, like woman / Look best when free, undressed." She uses a variety of different poetic styles and some vibrant imagery. Her work is primarily in the confessional style, often meditative and occasionally deeply satirical in their tone.

To get a good sense of her range, I'd particularly take a look at "What Are You Still Angry About," the haunting "Song of Calling Souls" dedicated to the drowned voices from the Golden Venture, "Haiku Trio," "Ultimate Passage," where "Identity is a fiction" as she heads towards Tibet, and "Born In The Year of the Chicken."

I'd recommend it for anyone about to embark on a deep journey.

[Theron Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Cheri Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and electric. I love this book.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

"when the mind is full, the room ceases to be empty"

"how much does one have to suffer to become beautiful? And even beauty does not please all the time"

"too bad my grandma loves money more than me. It shut her up. I rewarded her with a 1,000 yuan banquet."

"the first woman and man
jumped of Nuwa's hand
Repaired heavens
Ten thousand years of sleep
Sitting by the river
she smiled at her last mission

They waded into the river
Shadows sank to the bottom
Earth burnt off the last rays
Their bodies turned into maps."

just a few lines I loved. Ping you are a soulmate. I wonder because these words are a dozen years old if you are still looking, still a mystery. I just think you are just a child really and that is why I like you so because I too am just a child... I just got bigger. But I'm still a child.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No matter how our eyes see things,
Their importance does not depend
on our existence."

Excellent and worth rereading. My favorites seem to be journey-titled, although I didn't realize until later... Punctual Arrival, No Sense of Direction, Ultimate Passage.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's all about "No sense of Direction."

One of my favorite Asian American poems ever.

[Jenny Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wang Ping gets into the heart of daughters, mothers, lovers, poets, humans and scoops out all that is bitter and sweet. I am rereading rereading rereading.