English Original
yin and yang
snow paints
the coal yard
tinywords, 19:2, February 10 2020
Joan Zimmerman
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
陰與陽
一場雪雪涂抹
煤炭場
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
阴与阳
一场雪雪涂抹
煤炭场
Bio Sketch
Active in the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society and founder of the “Buson 100,” Joan Zimmerman published widely in haiku, tanka, and haibun. She also wrote articles on Japanese poetic forms and taught workshops on tanka. Her work has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and German.
The haiku pivots on the stark contrast between white snow, L2 and black coal, L3. The phrase “yin and yang,” L1, frames the image philosophically, suggesting balance, duality, and interdependence.
ReplyDeleteAnd “paints” is a strong verb. It implies both "covering" and creating a visual composition, which fits the black–white theme.
My haiku below could be read as its prequel:
clean coal billboard ...
a fork-tongued thought
darkens the night
Plum Tree Tavern, January 21, 2023