Tuesday, April 17, 2018

One Man's Maple Moon: White Lilies Tanka by Susan Constable

English Original

white lilies
opening in the water …
on the bridge
a man stands alone,
scattering ashes

GUSTS, 22, Fall/Winter 2015

Susan Constable


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在河水中
白色百合花盛開 ...
在橋上
有一人獨自
潑撒骨灰

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在河水中
白色百合花盛开...
在桥上
有一人独自
泼撒骨灰


Bio Sketch

Susan Constable’s haiku and tanka appear in numerous journals and anthologies. Her tanka collection, The Eternity of Waves, was one of the winning entries in the eChapbook Awards for 2012. As well as being the tanka editor of A Hundred Gourds from 2012-2016, she’s co-edited two anthologies and has judged haiku and senryu contests. 

2 comments:

  1. The visual contrast between blooming white lilies and scattered ashes is symbolically rich and emotionally poignant.

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  2. I loved this piece ... lilies open as as the man finds closure. The singularity of this one farewell is viewed in contrast to the welcoming stance of the group of water lilies embracing the life of another new day.

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