Tuesday, January 31, 2023

One Man's Maple Moon: Desire Tanka by Brian Zimmer

English Original

his desire
recedes
with each step
added
to the bridge

Lyrical Passion Poetry, 2011

Brian Zimmer


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

隨著每一步
接近
到橋上
他的慾望
減退

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

随着每一步
接近
到桥上
他的欲望
减退


Bio Sketch

Brian Zimmer wrote from the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. His work had appeared in various international print and online journals. He took inspiration from a variety of sources, including the ancient Japanese poetic-diary (utanikki) and free-form, poetic "essay" (zuihitsu).

1 comment:

  1. Brian's minimalist tanka that depicts suspense line by line (what kind of desire? for what purpose? why the N's desire recedes when appraoching the bridge?) , draws the reader in and brings anxiety along with suspension into this middle-of-story.


    And the following tanka could be read as sequels to Brian's:

    no solution
    for the ice bridge
    between us --
    a snow plow blade cutting
    the arteries of our city

    Contrapunct, 2019

    Lavana Kray

    white lilies
    opening in the water …
    on the bridge
    a man stands alone,
    scattering ashes

    GUSTS, 22, Fall/Winter 2015

    Susan Constable

    to get elected
    they promise jobs
    to build a bridge
    big enough for the jobless
    to jump from

    Gusts, 25, Spring/Summer 2017

    LeRoy Gorman

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