English Original
a rooster on a leg string
stands at the end of his world
daring traffic --
even a chicken feels
the pinch of a tethered life
Take Five, I, 2008
William Hart
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
一隻公雞的腿被繩子綁住
站在他的世界盡頭
挑戰來來往往的車輛
連小雞都覺得
束縛生活的捏緊之感
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
一只公鸡的腿被绳子绑住
站在他的世界尽头
挑战来来往往的车辆
连小鸡都觉得
束缚生活的捏紧之感
Bio Sketch
A poet and writer, William Hart's stories and poetry have been published in many journals and anthologies. His chapbook, Paris, won a Merit Book Award (3rd place) from the Haiku Society of America. And other books of haiku and tanka include, Monsoon, Wildcat Road, On Cat Time, Ballygunge: Kokata Tanka and cloud eats mountain.
The contrasts, thematic and emotional, between the two parts of the tanka are thought-provoking yet relatable, carring metaphoric significance.
ReplyDeleteAnd my tanka below could be read as a prequel to William's:
a rooster
with my backyard hens
voluntarily
the new neighbor gives
a speech about himself
Prune Juice, 29, November 2019