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 PoeticaSkylarkRibbonsthe cherita journalmoonbathingephemerae, 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.

    ReplyDelete