a blues master
sings the only song
he ever recorded --
I slide my poem
into an envelope
Eucalypt, 2008
David Bachelor
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
藍調大師
吟唱他唯一錄製
的歌曲 --
將我的詩放入
信封內
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
蓝调大师
吟唱他唯一录製
的歌曲 --
将我的诗放入
信封内
Bio Sketch
Poetry has provided a purpose and voice to this retired teacher. David Bachelor taught in a college of education for years. Now he spends his time trying to see life anew.
The contrast between the two parts (a masterpiece of music vs a piece of writing) of this middle-of-the-story tanka is thought-provoking and the ending is layered with multiple meanings.
ReplyDeleteDavid's tanka reminds me of the following remarks by two of my favorite masters:
No masterpiece was ever created by a lazy artist.
-- Salvador Dali
I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of shit. I try to put the shit in the wastebasket.
―- Ernest Hemingway