English Original
his stand
on chemotherapy
the bluebird’s cry
nestles on the palm
of sunrise
First Place, 2015 Mandy’s Pages Tanka Contest
Christine L. Villa
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
他的立場
關於化療
一藍鳥的詠嘆
依偎在日出
的掌心
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
他的立场
关于化疗
一蓝鸟的咏叹
依偎在日出
的掌心
Bio Sketch
An animated story teller and an artist by nature, Christine L. Villa dabbles in children's writing, Japanese short-form poetry, and photography. She is the founder and editor of Frameless Sky -- a video journal showcasing poets, artists, and musicians in collaborative projects. She blogs her haiku, tanka, and haiga at Blossom Rain.
The tanka employs usual metaphor and imagery in the last three lines. There is much room for interpretation as to whether this belief in cytotoxic therapy is supported or denied. Is this the bluebird of happiness and hope . . . or is this the blueness we associate with sadness and pending loss? The reader has plenty of space to ruminate on the possible interpretations of this tanka. Are we to think that the subject of the poem has changed his mind, or does the voice of the poem wish, or hope, that he will? Subtle allusions to the medical setting add strength to this tanka when one considers the alternative meaning of ‘stand’; the cry of the ‘bird in the hand’ is also reminiscent of the motto and calls to mind the medication that might be sustaining life, and hope. The image “nestling in the palm of sunrise” is striking and it is possible the poet meant that the outcome of this choice literally rests in the hands of god?
ReplyDelete-- excerpted from the judge's commentary, accessed at https://www.mandys-pages.com/contests/annual-tanka-contest/184-atc-2015-winners
Thank you so much, Chen-ou, for featuring my tanka. This is a very pleasant surprise!
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