London, December 13 —n a moment of rare international convergence between poetry and peace, the Chinese poet Cao Shui was awarded the Poet of the Year title by the British Global Peace Let’s Talk Organization (GPLT) in London. The distinction, bestowed upon only four poets worldwide, marks a significant milestone in Cao Shui’s literary journey and represents his first major award in the United Kingdom.
The honor was granted in recognition of the English edition of his monumental work, Epic of Eurasia, published by Multicultural Press (Australia). The volume was translated collaboratively by Cao Shui and George Wallace, edited by Võ Võ Thị Như Mai, and originally published in Chinese by Beiyue Literature and Art Publishing House in 2018. This English edition stands as the mother book from which translations into eight other languages have since emerged, extending the poem’s vision across cultures and continents.
At the award ceremony, Cao Shui delivered a deeply reflective speech, followed by the recitation of a poem dedicated to peace—one that encapsulates the philosophical and humanistic core of his work. His speech was received with profound attention and respect by the international audience:
Cao Shui’s Award Speech
I am the Chinese poet Cao Shui. I have published 51 books, and the peace of the world’s people is one of the important themes. From a genetic perspective, humans come from the same place and will inevitably move towards the same place. We walked out of Africa, concentrated in Mesopotamia, from here to Canaan, Egypt, Greece in the west, Persia, India, China in the east, and then to the whole world. I am very honored to receive the Annual Poetry Award of GPLT from the UK. I want to recite this poem written for peace here, which will also be included in my English version of “Epic of Eurasia” in the future.
The Hungry Peace Dove of Novosibirsk
Cao Shui (China)The peace dove flies towards me
The dove of peace surrounds me
The peace dove of Novosibirsk is hovering in the sky
I am embarking on a dream journeyWalking in the footsteps of the lion on the Top of Tower of Babel
From the Pacific Ocean of Asia
To the Atlantic Ocean of EuropeWhy am I trapped Novosibirsk under the Ural Mountains
Why do Noah’s descendants want war
The descendants of Shem in Asia
The descendants of Japheth in Europe
The descendants of Ham in AfricaWhy the War in Jerusalem, the City of Peace
Why do the descendants of Vladimir I of Kievan Rus want war
Why do Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus have to fight to the deathThe peace dove flies towards me
The dove of peace surrounds me
I reached out to feed the peace dove
I don’t have any bread left in my handsThe peace dove still surrounds me hungry, searching for food
I really want to feed all the peace doves
But I don’t have any bread left in my hands
With this recognition, Cao Shui’s poetry once again affirms its place as a moral and imaginative bridge between East and West, past and present, memory and hope. Rooted in history yet acutely responsive to contemporary conflicts, his voice rises in London not merely as a poet of one nation, but as a witness to humanity’s shared origin—and its unfulfilled longing for peace.
The Hungry Peace Dove of Novosibirsk
