English Original
the old body lying
next to my old body ...
our years together
Haiku Canada Review, 16:2, 2022
Naomi Beth Wakan
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
一具衰老的身體
躺在我的衰老身體旁邊 ...
我們在一起的歲月
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
一具衰老的身体
躺在我的衰老身体旁边 ...
我们在一起的岁月
Bio Sketch
Naomi Beth Wakan is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Nanaimo (2014–16) and the Federation of British Columbia Writer’s Inaugural Honorary Ambassador. She has published over fifty books. Her most recent book of essays, On the Arts, came out in 2020 (Shanti Arts). Her trilogy, The Way of Tanka, The Way of Haiku, and Poetry That Heals was published by Shanti Arts in 2019. Wakan is a member of The League of Canadian Poets, Haiku Canada, and Tanka Canada. She lives on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, the sculptor Elias Wakan.
Written in a matter-of-fact tone, the understatement of Ls 1&2 is emotionally enahnced by the effective use of repetition, "old body," and the thematic significance of L3.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do think "his (not the) old body" as L1 emotionally works better. This understated haiku reminds me of the introduction of Naomi's latest book, "Time Together:"
This collection of poems and photographs, by Naomi Beth Wakan and Elias Wakan, is dedicated with love to Gabriola, the island near Vancouver, British Columbia, where the couple has lived for some twenty years. "Her poetry and his photographs reflect their love and life together on this small island."
For more, see "Cool Announcement: New Release, Time Together by Naomi Beth Wakan," accessed at http://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.com/2022/11/cool-announcement-new-release-time.html
And "To the Lighthouse: A Rhetorical Device, Understatement," accessed at http://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.com/2022/10/to-lighthouse-rhetorical-device.html