Shengsi Islands in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The Big Fish Seawall

(by George Bishop Haydoc) 

Here, you are the sky, you are the sea.

Live in this castle built with echoes

of fishermen songs and artful whispers

honoring island tradition.

Here, you are home on Shengsi.

George Bishop Haydoc, a young man from Boston, the United States, recently wrote several poems about the islands in Shengsi county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, after a week of strolling around the island county.

Haydoc is well-travelled but had never been to Asia. The idea of visiting Shengsi occurred to him when he knew that two friends of his, a couple, had decided to live and run a business in the county, the very eastern corner of China.

With an intention to explore the islands there, Haydoc stayed in Shengsi for a whole week, visiting every village of it and experiencing the daily life of local residents. He was even given a Chinese name by them, Bi Xiaohu.

The charming scenery, fresh sea food and hospitable villagers impressed him a lot, which as he says are quite different from his hometown and inspired him to write some poems to record his feelings for the island county. 

Haydoc grew up by the sea and graduated from Union College in New York. He has been writing since his college years.

George Bishop Haydoc, from Boston, the United States, stands with a local couple in Shengsi Islands. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]