The Poet Marilyn Chin's How I Got That Name

Poet Marilyn Chin was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Oregon, U.S. When Mei Ling moved to U.S she changed the name to Marilyn Chin because of his father insistence. Chin is a noted anthologist, translator and educator as well as a poet and novelist. Her sister name was also changed from Jayne Mansfield to May Jayne because her parents thought it would be more suitable for them in society. Her poetry is noted for its direct and often confrontational attitude “How I Got That Name: an essay on assimilation” which focuses on assimilation into U.S. culture.

One of the main reasons she became poet is because she had problem with American poetry. She was fond of reading at early age and she found American poetry being self – satisfied, lovey- dovey or extraordinary. So she began writing suburban poetry. That happens to all educational poets in academic place. Chin thinks that poets really need to relate to their work." Chin analysis of recent American poetry also extends to a meditation on the style of poetry and construction. " She was also inspired by poets like June George and Adrienne Rich consider becoming an poet. I think there needs to be a dedication

"I try to tell my students that they learn in another language and relate to poetry in alternative language. I believe it's very significant that we think about ourselves as if we are competing from around the global instead of the U.S.." She has won lots of recognition and awards including the, multiple Pushcart Prizes, PEN/Josephine Miles Award, a Stegner Fellowship, the Paterson Prize, a Fulbright Fellowship, and further fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard and the National Endowment for the