Friday, October 25, 2013

One Man's Maple Moon: Creation Tanka by George Swede

English Original

Were there cries
of passion during
my creation?
In gray morning light
veins stand out.   

Gusts, 17, Spring/Summer 2013

George Swede


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

創作過程
有激情
的呼喊嗎?
在灰色晨光中
我的靜脈顯露

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

创作过程
有激情
的呼喊吗?
在灰色晨光中
我的静脉显露


Bio Sketch

George Swede has published two collections of tanka: First Light, First Shadows (Liverpool: Snapshot Press, 2006) and White Thoughts, Blue Mind (Edmonton: Inkling Press, 2010). His tanka have also appeared in a number of anthologies, including The Tanka Anthology (Red Moon Press, 2003) and a number of journals, including Ribbons and Gusts.

1 comment:

  1. The visually and emotionally poignant image in the lower verse embodies a seemingly rhetorical question in the upper one and thus enhances the significance of the question.

    George's well-crafted, relatable tanka reminds me of Elizabeth Reyes's remark on writing:

    I write because I must. It's not a choice or a pastime, it's an unyeilding calling and my passion.

    ReplyDelete