English Original
out at sea
with no wind in my sails …
the hardest
place to be
is by your side
hedgerow, 19, 2015
Sergio A. Ortiz
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
在海上漂流
我的帆沒有風 …
最難以忍受
的地方
是留在你身邊
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
在海上漂流
我的帆没有风 …
最难以忍受
的地方
是留在你身边
Bio Sketch
Sergio A. Ortiz is a Puerto Rican poet and the founding editor of Undertow Tanka Review. He is a two time Pushcart nominee, a four time Best of the Web nominee, and a 2016 Best of the Net nominee. He is currently working on his first full length collection of poems, Elephant Graveyard.
The comparison between the two parts of this relationship tanka is emotionally poignant and thought-provoking: the life situation depicted in Ls 1&2 is more bearable than by someone's side.
ReplyDeleteThis tanka reminds reminds me of the following remark:
Hell is—other people!
― Jean-Paul Sartre, "No Exit"
Very thought provoking. Would you rather be ‘Out at sea’ or by someone who is obstinate and hard to get along?
ReplyDeleteHowever, being by oneself in a boat with no wind can be painful just as much.
Or… ones love of the sea can be hindered or made unpleasant by a wind that is not cooperating!