gone are sail winds
that came in the night
same as you
I knew we would end
on a still day in time
Honorable Mention, 2010 TSA Tanka Contest
an'ya
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
和你一樣
夜晚來的航海風
已經走了
我知道在一個平靜無風的日子
我們的關係將會及時結束
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
和你一样
夜晚来的航海风
已经走了
我知道在一个平静无风的日子
我们的关係将会及时结束
Bio Sketch
an'ya
is a haiku and tanka poet who has been published in over 60 foreign
languages, and appeared in places and publications worldwide. If you
would like to read more of her works and a complete biography, please
visit https://sites.google.com/site/existencearts/
Here is remorse made eloquent with a nautical simile. The last line is a powerful launch into meditation on this poem and all it suggests. Perhaps all such personal endings are a “still day in time”—where the present moment and life’s hectic activities seem to be suspended while a relationship comes to an end.
ReplyDelete-- excerpted from the TSA judge's comment, which can be accessed at http://www.tankasocietyofamerica.org/tsa-contest/winners-and-judges-comments/2010-tsa-international-tanka-contest-winners
"... The last line is a powerful launch into meditation on this poem and all it suggests..."
On the second reading, the last line carries metaphoric significance to the poem.