Friday, March 1, 2019

One Man's Maple Moon: Son Tanka by James Chessing

English Original

how my son has grown
the things we talk about
the things we don't
I lose his arrow's flight
in the glare of the noonday sun

Mariposa, 30, 2014

James Chessing


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的兒子已成長壯大
有些事我們一起討論
有些事我們避而不談
在正午的刺眼陽光下
我失去了他的踪影

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的儿子已成长壮大
有些事我们一起讨论
有些事我们避而不谈
在正午的刺眼阳光下
我失去了他的踪影


Bio Sketch

James Chessing's profession is clinical psychology.  He is in his fifth decade writing haiku, and he published his first tanka in 2006.  His poems have appeared in many of the leading journals and anthologies, and he had the good fortune to place first in the 2010 Tanka Society of America Contest. 

1 comment:

  1. The opening statements (Ls 1-3) are relatable yet bittersweet while the closing image of [my 'son's] arrow's flight in the glare of the noonday 'sun' (Ls 4&5) adds emotional weight and psychological depth to the tanka. And on second reading,the visually striking phrase, "the glare of the noonday sun," effectively carries symbolic and emotional significance.

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