English Original
cliff edge —
a burning sky
behind us
Honourable Mention, IHS International Haiku Competition 2022
Marion Clarke
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
懸崖邊緣—
在我們的身後
火燒的天空
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
悬崖边缘—
在我们的身后
火烧的天空
Bio Sketch
Marion Clarke is from the east coast of Northern Ireland. Growing up surrounded by the scenic shores of Carlingford Lough, the Mourne Mountains and Kilbroney Forest Park, she was destined to write haiku.
The em dash after L1, “cliff edge,” works effectively as a kireji, or cutting pause, forcing the reader to stop at the precipice before taking in the scene beyond it.
ReplyDeleteThe unexpected turn in L3, “behind us,” then radically shifts the haiku’s perspective. Rather than simply placing the speakers safely on the ground and inviting readers to admire a sunset ahead, the poem positions them at the very edge of a drop, with the burning sky looming ominously behind them. This reversal introduces a subtle but thrilling tension: what initially appears to be a moment of stillness and contemplation suddenly feels precarious, even final.
Furthermore, the phrase, “burning sky,” in L2 is especially vivid, carrying both atmospheric beauty and a sense of danger. By the end of the haiku, the landscape seems to have become psychologically charged—the speakers are caught between the cliff edge before them and the fire behind them.
Thank you for featuring and translating my work, Chen-ou. Although I wrote this several years ago with an almost apocalyptic scenario in mind, after the horrendous summer wildfires in Europe and further afield it feels very timely..
ReplyDeleteHere is my response haiku:
DeleteDoes this modern haiku work well?
sky tinged smoky gray
alone, I drive slowly past
what's left