English Original
new moon
my hand moves over where
once my breast was
Honourable Mention, Marlene Mountain Haiku Contest
Vandana Parashar
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
新月
我的手移到我的乳房
曾經所在之處
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
新月
我的手移到我的乳房
曾经所在之处
Bio Sketch
Vandana Parashar is a microbiologist, a teacher and a haiku enthusiast. Her work has been published in various online and print journals. And she has won several awards, such as honorable mention in 2015 Matsuo Basho Haiku Contest, second place in 2017 Wordweavers Haiku Contest, and third place in 2017 Samurai Haibun Contest. She lives in Panchkula, India with her husband and two daughters.
L1, "new moon," which is the first lunar phase, not visible to the unaided eye/almost totally dark, sets the mood of the haiku while unexpected yet visually and emotionally poignant L3 conveys a sense of loss (and grief. ). On a second reading, L1, the start of a new lunar cycle symbolizing new beginnings. effectively carries symbolic significance that might provide an alternative reading of Ls 2&3.
ReplyDeleteIt might be interesting to do a comparative reading of the following three breast haiku:
last rose of summer --
the loneliness
of a single breast
International Women’s Haiku Festival, 2018
Martha Magenta
bedroom mirror --
the coldness of that dangling
single breast
Third prize, Sharpening the Green Pencil Haiku Contest
Rita Odeh
first glimpse
of her mastectomy bra
winter rose
Runner-Up, 2015 Fifth Vladimir Devidé Haiku Award
Chen-ou Liu
These are very moving poems.
ReplyDelete