Tuesday, November 23, 2021

One Man's Maple Moon: Dapple Color Tanka by Aya Yuhki

English Original

the edge
of maple leaves is red
the rest, still green
the dapple color
of my heart

Gusts, 32, Fall/Winter  2020

Aya Yuhki 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

楓葉的邊緣
是紅色
其餘, 仍然是綠色
這是我內心
的斑駁顏色

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

枫叶的边缘
是红色
其余, 仍然是绿色
这是我内心
的斑驳颜色


Bio Sketch

Aya Yuhki was born and now lives in Tokyo. She started writing tanka more than thirty years ago and has expanded her interests to include free verse poetry, essay writing, and literary criticism. Aya Yuhki is Editor-in-Chief of The Tanka Journal published by the Japan Poets’ Society. Her works are featured on the homepage of the Japan Pen Club’s Electronic Library.

2 comments:

  1. Enhanced by color symbolism and implied simile (between maple leaves and the speaker's heart), the buildup to unexpected yet powerful L5 is visually and emotionally effective.

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    Replies
    1. My tanka below could be read as a sequel/response to Aya':

      my “now”
      written to fill up
      a jagged piece
      of time . . .
      maple leaves turn yellow

      Atlas Poetica, 21, 2015

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