English Original
a flow of walnut hair
over an almond pillow
this winter night --
a slow dark river
to drown in
Modern English Tanka, 1:2, Winter 2006
Larry Kimmel
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
這個冬夜
一縷核桃色的頭髮
在杏仁色的枕頭上 --
可以淹沒
在一條緩慢流動的黑色河流
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
这个冬夜
一缕核桃色的头发
在杏仁色的枕头上 --
可以淹没
在一条缓慢流动的黑色河流
Bio Sketch
Larry Kimmel lives quietly in the hills of western Massachusetts. His most recent books are shards and dust (cherita), outer edges (tanka) and thunder and apple blossoms (haiku).
Enhanced by the visually and emotionally effective use of synecdoche ("walnut hair" for the N's lover), the implied simile established between L1 ( a "flow" of "walnut hair"/dark blown hair) and L4 (a slow "dark river") is used to depict an intimate relationship in which the N can submerge himself as indicated in L5.
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