Butterfly Dream: Village Night Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

village night out

the lamps of fireflies

everywhere

Afriku, 2016

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

鄉村之夜

螢火蟲的燈光

無所不在

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

乡村之夜

萤火虫的灯光

无所不在

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Scarecrow Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

empty field --

scarecrow watches

scarecrow

Scaring Crow, 2022

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

空曠的田野 --

稻草人注視著

稻草人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

空旷的田野 --

稻草人注视着

稻草人

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Dark Moon Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

dark moon

the shriek of an owl

unsettles a dream

afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

闇月

貓頭鷹的尖叫

擾亂夢境

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

暗月

猫头鹰的尖叫

扰乱梦境

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Midnight Banter Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

midnight banter

the drunken farmer

and a scarecrow

Scaring Crow, 2022

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

午夜開玩笑

醉酒的農夫

和稻草人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

午夜开玩笑

醉酒的农夫

和稻草人

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Poetic Musings: Protest March Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

protest march

potbelly men

hold the line

Akitsu, Fall 2021

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Commentary: L1 sets the theme and tone while unexpected yet visually and emotionally "powerful" L3 makes this "protest" haiku fresh and effective, sparking the reader's emotions and reflection on what kind of reason is this group of potbelly men, who are, generally speaking, less active or energetic, protesting for? Which "sociopolitical" goal are they trying to achieve by "holding the line" firmly. 👏

What's left unsaid is at least as potent as what's stated.

And it might be interesting to do a thematic comparison reading of the following "magical-realist-esque" haiku:

a police phalanx

moves backward

a black woman

Applause Please, 2020

Jack Galmitz

Butterfly Dream: Protest March Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

protest march

potbelly men

hold the line

Akitsu, Fall 2021

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

抗議遊行

大肚腩男人們

堅守陣地

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

抗议游行

大肚腩男人们

坚守阵地

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Dawn Combo Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

dawn combo

the pop of my porridge

with birdsong

 

Songbirds, 2022

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

黎明組合餐

我的稀飯的啵啵聲

伴隨著鳥鳴聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

黎明组合餐

我的稀饭的啵啵声

伴随着鸟鸣声

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Roasting Sun Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

roasting sun

the egret’s measured steps

in buffalo shadow

The Mamba, 5, March 2018

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

炙熱的太陽

在水牛的陰影下

白鷺鷥小心翼翼的腳步

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

炙热的太阳

在水牛的阴影下

白鹭鸶小心翼翼的脚步

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Tug of War Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

tug of war

a child and the wind

in a kite pull

Tales of the Kite, 2023

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一場拔河比賽

一個孩子和大風

拉扯飛翔的風箏

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一场拔河比赛

一个孩子和大风

拉扯飞翔的风筝

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Butterfly Dream: Oneness Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

English Original

black coffee

white sugar

I stir the world into oneness

Afriku, 2016

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

黑咖啡

白砂糖

我將世界攪拌成為一體

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

黑咖啡

白砂糖

我将世界搅拌成为一体

Bio Sketch

Adjei Agyei-Baah (June 29, 1977 -- December 18, 2023) was the co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and The Mamba and author of afriku: haiku and Senryui from Ghana, 2016, Finding the Other Door, 2021 and Scaring Crow, 2022. 

Poetic Musings: Roasting Sun Haiku by Adjei Agyei-Baah

roasting sun

the egret’s measured steps

in buffalo shadow

The Mamba, 5, March 2018

Adjei Agyei-Baah

Commentary: L1 depicts the tropical scene of a roasting sun, while Ls 2&3 highlight the contrast between two creatures: the still, quiet buffalo and the moving egret. And L2, the egret’s "measured steps," gives  the reader pause: is the egret looking for shade or being careful not to disturb the buffalo, so as not to cause this bigger creature to roll over it? This tropical haiku successfully creates a moment of experience where the reader can dwell.