English Original
like pigeons
around your feet,
I too peck at
what you have dropped
and forgotten
M. Kei
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
像鴿子一樣
圍繞在你的腳邊,
我也啄食
你所掉落並遺忘
的一切東西
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
像鸽子一样
围绕在你的脚边,
我也啄食
你所掉落并遗忘
的一切东西
Bio Sketch
M. Kei is a tall ship sailor and award-winning poet who lives on Maryland’s Eastern shore. He is the editor of Atlas Poetica: A Journal of World Tanka. His most recent collection of poetry is January, A Tanka Diary. He is also the author of the award-winning gay Age of Sail adventure novels, Pirates of the Narrow Seas. He can be followed on Twitter @kujakupoet, or visit AtlasPoetica.org.
The simile established between Ls 1&2 and Ls 3&4 is visually poignant and L5 adds emotional weight and psychological depth to the tanka.
ReplyDeleteAnd it might be interesting to do a thematic comparison reading of the following tanka.
a sudden loud noise
all the pigeons of Venice
at once fill the sky
that is how it felt when your hand
accidentally touched mine
First Prize, 2001 North American Tanka Contest
Ruby Spriggs