English Original
second time around --
you hold me tighter now
even in sleep
lest I visit the place
where old wounds lie
Short Masterpieces of the Human Heart, 2006
Thelma Mariano
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
這是第二次 --
為了不使我省視
舊傷所在之處
即使在睡眠中
現在你把我抱得更緊了
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
这是第二次 --
为了不使我省视
旧伤所在之处
即使在睡眠中
现在你把我抱得更紧了
Bio Sketch
Thelma Mariano is the author of Night Sky: a Selection of Tanka Poetry. She lives in Montreal and has published her tanka in literary journals as well as in various anthologies including Fire Pearls and Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka.
The buildup from L2 to L5 is thematically and emotionally effective, enhancing the purpose of L1.
ReplyDeleteAnd it might be interesting to do a comparative reading of my tanka below:
midnight moon
shedding light on the scars
of our past
I hold my first love
closer and tighter
PoemHunter, April 25 2022