in the grain
of a fallen eucalypt
each passing year
down to the sapling
the great tree once was
A Hundred Gourds, 4:4 September 2015
Simon Hanson
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
在倒下桉樹
的一粒種子
我看到過去的每一年
一顆樹苗
一棵曾經是高大的樹
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
在倒下桉树
的一粒种子
我看到过去的每一年
一颗树苗
一棵曾经是高大的树
Bio Sketch
Simon Hanson lives in Queensland Australia. Sometime ago he spent a number of years floating around Flinders University philosophy department but has more recently fallen under the spell of Japanese poetry, much preferring the challenge of writing something in a few words rather than ten thousand.
The sense of time passing and the concept of life cycle are skillfully conveyed in this smooth-flowing tanka.
ReplyDeleteI like its philosophical nature and it reminds me of the following quotes:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
William Blake, "Auguries of Innocence"
And
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit."
Gospel of John 12:20-33