The cover of the special issue entitled Anti-epidemic Poetry [Xinhua]

Xinhua Poetry Leaf, a journal of China's Xinhua News Agency, has collected over 300 original poems written by its journalists and editors focused on the country's battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in a special issue entitled Anti-epidemic Poetry.

The six-chapter poetic collection is the first creative literature to document the indomitable spirit, united strength and firm determination demonstrated by Chinese people in the prevention and control of the epidemic since the onset of its outbreak in late January in Wuhan, the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province.

The book's first chapter reviews Saying Goodbye to the God of Disease, a poem written by late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in the summer of 1958 in celebration of the country's success in the eradication of schistosomiasi (a major communicable disease in the past), to further boost the fighting morale of Chinese people in the ongoing battle.

The second and the third chapters are composed of poems written in modern and ancient types respectively.

The last chapter comprises 180 anti-virus poems authored by Zhou Qingyin, senior editor of Xinhua News Agency.

The special issue will be published on February 28.

(Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China)