One Man's Maple Moon: Lemon Tree Tanka by Sheila Sondik

English Original

fruitful lemon tree
graces the front yard
I sing
yet another oldie
to my granddaughter

Gusts, 29, Spring/Summer 2019

Sheila Sondik 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

碩果累累的檸檬樹

為前院增光添彩

我詠嘆

另一首歌老歌

給我的孫女

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

硕果累累的柠檬树

为前院增光添彩

我咏叹

另一首歌老歌

给我的孙女

Bio Sketch

Sheila Sondik is a poet and printmaker in the Pacific Northwest. A long-time lover of haiku (and practitioner of several other Japanese and Chinese art forms), she began writing haiku and tanka in 2010. Her work has been widely published.

One Man's Maple Moon: Odd Bird Tanka by Sheila Sondik

English Original

slinking away
from the convention
I walk the pier
another odd bird
among the pelicans

Bright Stars, 4, 2014

Sheila Sondik


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

從會議中
偷偷溜走  
我在碼頭溜達
看到在一群鵜鶘中
另一隻不合群的鳥

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

从会议中
偷偷溜走
我在码头溜达
看到在一群鹈鹕中
另一只不合群的鸟


Bio Sketch

Sheila Sondik is a poet and printmaker in the Pacific Northwest. A long-time lover of haiku (and practitioner of several other Japanese and Chinese art forms), she began writing haiku and tanka in 2010. Her work has been widely published.

One Man's Maple Moon: Smudged Ink Tanka by Sheila Sondik

English Original

smudged ink
on his postcard
not tears
but rain falling
in the miles between us

A Hundred Gourds, 1:2, Winter 2012

Sheila Sondik


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在他的明信片上
有墨水的污點
它們不是眼淚
而是在我們之間數里之遙的城鎮
正在下雨

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在他的明信片上
有墨水的污点
它们不是眼泪
而是在我们之间数里之遥的城镇
正在下雨


Bio Sketch

Sheila Sondik is a poet and printmaker in the Pacific Northwest. A long-time lover of haiku (and practitioner of several other Japanese and Chinese art forms), she began writing haiku and tanka in 2010. Her work has been widely published.

One Man's Maple Moon: Night Tanka by Sheila Sondik

English Original

all my devices
plugged in for the night
I'm free to dream
of the years I had babies
and no screens to nurture

Honorable Mention, 2017 Sanford Goldstein International Tanka Contest

Sheila Sondik


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

晚上將所有的電子設備
都插入儲電
現在我可以自由地做夢
那些年我有孩子
卻沒有使用電子屏幕來養育他們

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

晚上将所有的电子设备
都插入储电
现在我可以自由地做梦
那些年我有孩子
却没有使用电子屏幕来养育他们


Bio Sketch

Sheila Sondik is a poet and printmaker in the Pacific Northwest. A long-time lover of haiku (and practitioner of several other Japanese and Chinese art forms), she began writing haiku and tanka in 2010. Her work has been widely published.