Wednesday, July 30, 2014

One Man's Maple Moon: Suicide Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

There are no words                                                  
is all I can muster
suicide
his wife is deaf in grief
           palms up, I reach out

Ribbons, 9:2, Fall 2013

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

沒有任何言語
是我能夠用來描繪
自殺
他的妻子悲痛不已
       我伸出手安慰她

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

没有任何言语
是我能够用来描绘
自杀
他的妻子悲痛不已
       我伸出手安慰她


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman began to write general poetry in 2005, haiku in 2008, and tanka in 2011. He writes to be read and believes that the reader is never wrong. With his wife, Elaine, he combines his poetry with her Native American flute and photography in free public recitals with the aim of their hearts speaking to other hearts.

1 comment:

  1. The cause of this unbearable tragedy, "suicide," is well placed at the center while the opening and closing lines, "There are no words" and "palms up, I reach out," frame the poem thematically and emotionally.

    At a time like this, actions speak louder than words.

    ReplyDelete