Sunday, May 16, 2021

Butterfly Dream: Cliff Face Haiku by Naomi Beth Wakan

English Original

early sunlight 
the gulls etch their shadows 
on the cliff face 

Wind on the Heath, 2020 

Naomi Beth Wakan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

清晨的陽光
海鷗蝕刻它們的陰影
在懸崖壁上

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

清晨的阳光
海鸥蚀刻它们的阴影
在悬崖壁上


Bio Sketch

Naomi Beth Wakan is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Nanaimo (2014–16) and the Federation of British Columbia Writer’s Inaugural Honorary Ambassador. She has published over fifty books. Her most recent book of essays, On the Arts, came out in 2020 (Shanti Arts). Her trilogy, The Way of TankaThe Way of Haiku, and Poetry That Heals was published by Shanti Arts in 2019. Wakan is a member of The League of Canadian Poets, Haiku Canada, and Tanka Canada. She lives on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, the sculptor Elias Wakan.

1 comment:

  1. The jux. of contrasting elements, sunlight vs shadows and animate vs inanimate forms of life, is visually and emotionally effective, and Naomi's fine verb choice, "etch," adds life energy to this imagistic haiku.

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