English Original
undecided
about which dress to wear
I remember Dad
whistling as he buttoned
his only suit
red lights, 9:1, Jan. 2013
Joyce S. Greene
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
未決定
要穿那件衣服
我記得父親
當他扣上唯一西裝的鈕扣
吹著口哨
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
未决定
要穿那件衣服
我记得父亲
当他扣上唯一西装的钮扣
吹著口哨
Bio Sketch
Joyce S. Greene lives with her husband in upstate New York, USA, and works as an accountant at an insurance company. She began writing Japanese short form poetry in 2009. A number of her poems have been published in tanka journals and in three tanka anthologies: "Catzilla!" and two volumes of "Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka." Within a year of beginning her poetic adventure, one of her tanka was featured on the back cover of "Ribbons," and, more recently, another was selected for the "Ribbons" Tanka Cafe Member's Choice Award. In addition, one of her haiku tied for first place in the "Haiku this Haiga" competition sponsored by Haiga Online.
The contrasts (many dresses/only suit; anxious as implied in "undecided"/joyful as implied in "whistling") between the two parts of the tanka are emotionally effective.
ReplyDeleteThe low verse hints at the speaker's father's attitude to life.