The official bilingual book comes after an edition translated by a Taiwan-based lyricist that fans call "not quite professional". His fans, in turn, produced their own version, which was widely circulated online.
The new authorized edition brought on board Chen Dongbiao, an established translator who has published Chinese versions of works by such literary giants as Vladimir Nabokov, William Butler Yeats, Jorge Luis Borges and Ezra Pound since the 1990s.
Chen first saw video of Jackson's performance 30 years ago.
"I suggest readers pore over his book as if they'd never heard of him," Chen tells China Daily.
"You'll discover new dimensions of Jackson and see the world through his eyes."
Chen says Jackson's prose possesses the power of simplicity.
Although penned by a household name, it twinkles with a luster that makes it relatable.
"His poems are spontaneous and very easy to understand," Chen says.
"They don't have big words and unnecessary phrasing."
Chen says it will take time to tell if the poems are truly great.
It will also take time to see how－and if－new allegations about the superstar affect the book's sales.