Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Butterfly Dream: Term Play Haiku by Sonam Chhoki

English Original

end of term play --
with a halo around his head
Buddha forgets his words

A Hundred Gourds, 1:2, March 2012

Sonam Chhoki


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

學期戲劇結束 --
頭上頂著光環
佛祖忘記他的台詞

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

学期戏剧结束 --
头上顶著光环
佛祖忘记他的台词


Bio Sketch

Born and raised in the eastern Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, Sonam Chhoki has been writing Japanese short forms of haiku, tanka and haibun for about 7 years. These forms resonate with her Tibetan Buddhist upbringing and provide the perfect medium for the exploration of  her country's rich ritual, social and cultural heritage. She is inspired by her father, Sonam Gyamtsho, the architect of Bhutan's non-monastic modern education. Her haiku, tanka and haibun have been published in poetry journals and anthologies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, UK and US.

1 comment:

  1. The thematic and tonal shift at the end of L3 effectively enhances the "hai" aspect of the haiku. It says something interesting about the "enlightened" character's, "Buddha's," state of mood/mind.

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