somehow
this sadness
looking
at the coarseness of the girl
I'm sleeping with tonight
Red Lights, 1991
Saito Mokichi
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
不知何故
這種悲傷之感浮現
注視
今晚和我一起睡覺
女孩的粗俗舉止
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
不知何故
这种悲伤之感浮现
注视
今晚和我一起睡觉
女孩的粗俗举止
Bio Sketch
Saito
Mokichi (May 14, 1882 -- February 25, 1953) was a psychiatrist and one
of the most successful practitioners of the new tanka. In 1913, he
published Shakko (Red Lights), a book that created a great
impression not only on tanka poets but also on the literary world in
general. In 1951, he received the Order of Culture.
The upper verse sets the tone and mood while the unexpected yet emotionally powerful lower verse adds poignancy to this middle-of-the-story tanka. And the one-word central line, "looking," is layered with multiple meanings, opening up an interpretative space for the reader's engagement.
ReplyDeleteThe following poem could be read as a prequel to Saito Mokichi's tanka:
Deletecold wind
from passing trailer trucks --
the sex worker
looks at her reflection
in a roadside puddle
Atlas Poetica, 23, 2015
Chen-ou Liu