Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Butterfly Dream: Waitress Haiku by Bill Kenney

English Original

open all night
the waitress stares
into her reflection

the earth pushes back, 2016

Bill Kenney
 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

通宵營業
一位女服務生盯著
商店櫥窗裡她的倒影

Translation result紙箱


Chinese Translation (Simplified)

通宵营业
一位女服务生盯着
商店橱窗里她的倒影

 
Bio Sketch 
 
Born and raised in the Boston area, and living for over 50 years in New York City, Bill Kenney was a professor for many years in the English Department at Manhattan College. He started writing haiku in 2004, a month before his 72nd birthday, and became an active participant in the New York City Spring Street Haiku group. His haiku were published in numerous journals and anthologies. And his collection of haiku, keep walking, won the 2021 Touchstone Distinguished Book Awards.

1 comment:

  1. L1 sets the tone and mood of this work haiku while Ls L2&3 show the waitress' state of mind (in a long-hours, sometimes demanding, at other times boring, work environment).

    This is a fine example of understated, shase (sketch from life) haiku.

    And the following haiku could be read as a pre/sequel to Bill's:

    moonlit sunflowers
    at a 24-hour deli
    his "good night" lingers

    Chrysanthemum Love, 2003

    Fay Aoyagi

    ReplyDelete