Building the “City of Poetry”: The Movement Direction of May Poetry Society and Modernist Poetry in Macau

The May Poetry Society is the first literary group in Macau to actively champion modernism, disseminate modern poetic theories, and promote the practice of modernist composition. When reflecting on the historical position of the May Poetry Society, discussions often focus on its role in introducing and disseminating modernist trends, while rarely delving deep into how its members, who carried different cultural backgrounds, incorporated their unique poetic pursuits into a shared literary ideal. The members of the May Poetry Society often wandered between “encouraging creativity” and “pursuing avant-garde”. Although caught in this paradox, they remained unshaken due to their passionate pursuit towards Macau's literary image. Through the efforts of the May Poetry Society, the “City of Poetry” gradually took shape. By describing the literary practices of the May Poetry Society, this article seeks to highlight the overlooked aspects of the modernist poetry movement in Macau.