rip-tide --
slowly I return
an occupied shell
to the surging sea
between us
Second Place, 2005 TSA International Tanka Contest
Beverley George
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
激流 --
慢慢地我將海貝
放回
在我倆之間
洶湧的大海
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
激流 --
慢慢地我将海贝
放回
在我俩之间
汹湧的大海
Bio Sketch
Beverley George is the past editor of Yellow Moon and the founder/editor of Eucalypt: a tanka journal 2006 - . In September 2009 she convened the 4th Haiku Pacific Rim Conference, in Terrigal, Australia. Beverley presented papers on haiku in Australia at the 3rd Haiku Pacific Rim conference in Matsuyama, Japan in 2007, and on Australian tanka at the 6th International Tanka Festival, Tokyo 2009. She was the president of the Australian Haiku Society 2006-2010.
The following is judges' comment (which can be accessed at http://tankasocietyofamerica.com/Contest2005.html):
ReplyDeleteIn Beverley's second place tanka, this is not just a tide, but a rip-tide: a strong narrow surface current that flows rapidly away from the shore. The primal force of nature contrasts with the poet's reluctant and/or respectful action of returning the shell to the sea. We stop and watch a moment as the sea swallows it back. The shell was occupied; there was life within it. Something has been saved by relinquishing it. The metaphor continues with the "surging sea between us," which includes not only the actual sea but the surge of emotion between the two people. Beautifully done.