braiding
her sister’s hair
after the rape
so many
long dark strands
Honorable Mention, 2012 Tanka Society of America International Contest
Jenny Ward Angyal
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
幫她妹妹
編辮子
強姦之後
這麼多
長條黑頭髮
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
帮她妹妹
编辫子
强姦之後
这麽多
长条黑头髮
Bio Sketch
Jenny Ward Angyal lives with her husband and one Abyssinian cat on a small organic farm in Gibsonville, NC, USA. She has written poetry since the age of five and tanka since 2008. Her tanka and other poems have appeared in various journals and may also be found online at http://grassminstrel.blogspot.com/
Judge's comment, accessed at http://tankasocietyofamerica.com/Contest2012.html
ReplyDeleteThese few words, say so much, capturing a terrible event and a sister's caring gesture in its aftermath, soothing and arranging the long hair, if not the dark memories she knows her sister will live with.
The lower verse works effectively on at least three levels, literal, emotional, and symbolic. Well done.
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