never thought
a life could grow to be
this unadorned,
my daily pot of oatmeal
steaming on the stove
Modern English Tanka, 9, Autumn 2008
Janet Lynn Davis
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
過去從未想過
生命可能樸實地
成長,
在爐子上蒸
我每日的麥片粥
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
过去从未想过
生命可能樸实地
成长,
在炉子上蒸
我每日的麦片粥
Bio Sketch
Janet Lynn Davis, from Texas (USA), has written tanka and other poetry off and on for several years. Her work has appeared in a wide variety of online and print venues. Many of her published poems can be found at her blog, twigs&stones.
The temporal shift and the collocation of "a life.. this unadorned" and "daily pot of oatmeal" make this understated life tanka emotionally effective, leaving room for the reader to join in and interpret.
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