Saturday, September 17, 2022

One Man's Maple Moon: Closet Tanka by Carole MacRury

English Original

in my closet
clothes for all occasions
yet the years
it took to be comfortable
in my own skin


Carole MacRury 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在我的衣櫥裡
有適合各種場合的衣服
然而花了幾年的時間
才對我的舉止和身份
感到舒適

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在我的衣橱里
有适合各种场合的衣服
然而花了几年的时间
才对我的举止和身份
感到舒适


Bio Sketch

Carole MacRury resides in Point Roberts, Washington, a unique peninsula and border town that inspires her work.  She is the author of In the Company of Crows: Haiku and Tanka Between the Tides (Black Cat Press, 2008, 2nd Printing, 2018) and The Tang of Nasturtiums, an award-winning e-chapbook (Snapshot Press 2012).  

1 comment:

  1. The shift, tonal, emotional and symbolic, in L3, elevates the tanka from an understanding of aesthetic and utilitarian qualities of clothing, L2 (clothes for "all occasions"), to the awakening journey, Ls 3&4 (yet the years/it took to be comfortable), back to one's true/comfortable self, L5(in my own skin).

    And it might be interesting to do a thematic comparative reading of my skin tanka below:

    behind my back
    they whisper slanted eyes ...
    in a dream
    I unzip my skin,
    put on another

    Highly Commended, 5th Kokako Tanka Competition, 2014

    ReplyDelete