Friday, March 6, 2026

One Man's Maple Moon: Crevices Tanka by Jackie Chou

English Original

tiny crevices
on the concrete road
the small chances
with which I blossom
like a wildflower


Jackie Chou 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

水泥路上
細小的縫隙
有些微機會
我會像野花
一樣地綻放

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

水泥路上
细小的缝隙
有些微机会
我会像野花
一样地绽放


Bio Sketch

Jackie Chou is a poet residing in sunny Southern California.  She sometimes gets her inspirations from common city birds and flowers.  Her works have been published in Atlas Poetica, Skylark, Ribbons, the cherita journal, moonbathing, ephemerae, and others.  

1 comment:

  1. This poem captures a classic tanka sensibility: a small observation in nature, Ls 1&2, that reflects something about the self, Ls 3-5.

    The contrast between nature and urban hardness in the opening image is clear and relatable, while the concluding line, “like a wildflower,” reinforces the theme of resilience and unexpected growth.

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