another feeding --
again we count
his fingers and toes
and they’re all
still there
Rivet, 13, June 2005
Michael Dylan Welch
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
再一次餵食 --
我們再度數算
他的手指和腳趾
它們都安然
健在
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
再一次餵食 --
我们再度数算
他的手指和脚趾
它们都安然
健在
Bio Sketch
Michael
Dylan Welch is vice president of the Haiku Society of America, founder
of the Tanka Society of America (2000), and cofounder of Haiku North
America conference (1991) and the American Haiku Archives (1996). In
2010 he also started National Haiku Writing Month (NaHaiWriMo),
which takes place every February, with an active Facebook page. His
personal website is www.graceguts.com, which features hundreds of
essays, reviews, reports, and other content, including examples of his
published poetry.
The collocation of "'another' feeding and "'again' we count/ his fingers and toes" is emotionally effective, showing readers the meaning of parenthood. Thematically and emotionally speaking, it resonates well with the following tanka by Guy Simser, which was posted last Saturday:
ReplyDeletehis tiny wet lips
to my offered cheek
sucking
the meaning
of parenthood
Ribbons, 3:4, Winter 2007
These two tanka work well as a somonka with Michael's poem as the opening verse.
Note: for more information about somonka, see "To the Lighthouse: Somonka, A Pair of Corresponsive Tanka," which can be accessed at http://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.ca/2014/07/to-lighthouse-somonka-pair-of.htm