young summer
at nine years old
foreign fingers
tracing my sister's
before-woman curves
Matsukaze
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
九歲
初夏的時候
陌生人手指
撫摸我妹妹
成為女人之前的曲線
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
九岁
初夏的时候
陌生人手指
抚摸我妹妹
成为女人之前的曲线
Bio Sketch
Matsukaze is a classical/operatic vocalist, thespian, and minister. He began writing haiku seriously around 2005, and tanka around 2006. He was recently re-introduced to tanka in 2013 by M. Kei, editor of Atlas Poetica, Journal of Poetry of Place in Contemporary Tanka. He lives in Louisiana; dividing his time between there and Houston, TX.
As the poem proceeds, the pleasing seasonal image shifts to the sexually violent one, which redefines the symbolic meaning(s) of the opening season of the poem, summer.
ReplyDeleteMatsukaze's visually and thematically effective use of metonymy adds psychological depth to the poem.
My dear sir...I am truly grateful for being showcased in this awesome online magazine. Thank you for the privilege.
ReplyDelete-Matsukaze
Hi! Matsukaze:
DeleteI was impressed by your visually riveting and themed-driven tanka, such as this one and the one previously posted.
Look forward to reading more of your new work.
Chen-ou