One Man's Maple Moon: Gold Watch Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

father's gold watch 

sits unused 

in a top drawer ...

time ceases to matter 

in the dementia ward 

Unfinished Conversations, 2021

Anne Curran 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在最上面的抽屜裡

父親的金表

擺著未使用 ...

在失智症病房裡

時間不再重要了

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在最上面的抽屉里

父亲的金表

摆着未使用 ...

在失智症病房里

时间不再重要了

Bio Sketch

Anne Curran lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been writing Japanese short verse forms for about  eleven years. She is grateful for the inspiration provided by editors, fellow poets and friends. Like a good wine she hopes only to improve her writing with age.

One Man's Maple Moon: Kite String Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

my heart 

a kite string 

between continents ...

but first and last 

the tug of home 

Unfinished Conversations, 2021

Anne Curran 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的心

像是一根風箏線

懸置在兩大洲之間 ...

不過首先也是最後

是家的牽引

 

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的心

像是一根风筝线

悬置在两大洲之间 ...

不过首先也是最后

是家的牵引

Bio Sketch

Anne Curran lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been writing Japanese short verse forms for about  eleven years. She is grateful for the inspiration provided by editors, fellow poets and friends. Like a good wine she hopes only to improve her writing with age.

Cool Announcement: A Freebie, Unfinished Conversations by Anne Curran

My Dear Readers:

NeverEnding Story contributor, Anne Curran, published a collection of tanka, Unfinished Conversations, (Title IX Press, 2021). You can read her tanka free online.

Author Bio: 

Anne Curran lives in Hamilton. She has been writing Japanese short verse forms for about ten years. She is grateful for the inspiration provided by editors, fellow poets and friends. Like a good wine she hopes only to improve her writing with age.

 

 

 

 

Selected Tanka:

 

my neighbor 

tells me to hold 
someone close ...
clenching my fist, I let 
the sky hold my thoughts 

my heart 
a kite string 
between continents. . . 
but first and last 
the tug of home 

no books 
on his shelves ...
but tales he tells 
of his sea-faring days 
riffle sky blue pages 

father's gold watch 
sits unused 
in a top drawer ...
time ceases to matter 
in the dementia ward 

her laughter 
quicker than mine today ...
a playful breeze 
on our faces 
as she pushes her walker 

daybreak 
with the curtains drawn 
my mind dark ...
then, the warble 
of a tui couple 

at night 
ice creaks on the river 
in a rising west wind ...
things I could have said 
things I could have done 

Happy Reading

Chen-ou

One Man's Maple Moon: Rainbow’s Arch Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

so many ways
of viewing the world ...
I feel the coolness
of rain on my face
beneath the rainbow’s arch

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

有這麼多方式
觀看世界 ...
在彩虹拱門下
感覺到雨在我臉上
的涼爽感覺
   
Chinese Translation (Simplified)

有这么多方式
观看世界 ...
在彩虹拱门下
感觉到雨在我脸上
的凉爽感觉 


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse poet who lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She remains grateful to all those family members, editors, and poets who have encouraged her in this work

One Man's Maple Moon: Politics, Leaves and Dreams Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

talk
of papal politics,
tea leaves and dreams ...
I wonder when
the rain will stop

A Hundred Gourds, 3:4, September 2014

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

談論
教皇政治，
茶葉算命和夢想 ...
我不知道什麼時候
雨才會停止

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

谈论
教皇政治，
茶叶算命和梦想 ...
我不知道什么时候
雨才会停止


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse poet who lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She remains grateful to all those family members, editors, and poets who have encouraged her in this work

One Man's Maple Moon: Passing Season Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

from starlings in flight
to jonquils blooming ...
between us
we feel the ripple
of a passing season

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

從飛行中椋鳥
到盛開的黃水仙 ...
在我們之間
感受到即將消逝季節
的一陣漣漪

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

从飞行中椋鸟
到盛开的黄水仙...
在我们之间
感受到即将消逝季节
的一阵涟漪


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse poet who lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She remains grateful to all those family members, editors, and poets who have encouraged her in this work

One Man's Maple Moon: Gatepost Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

a heron
resting on the gatepost
in river fog ...
I listen for the call
of my ancestors

Cattails, June 2015

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在河霧中
一隻蒼鷺
在門柱上休息 ...
我正在傾聽
來自祖先們的呼喚

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在河雾中
一只苍鹭
在门柱上休息...
我正在倾听
来自祖先们的呼唤


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is  Japanese verse form poet who lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. She is very grateful to all poets and editors who have been encouraging in this writing journey. She lives with an extended family who she loves dearly. She loves to read poetry, literature and news of all kinds.

Butterfly Dream: Spring Shower Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

spring shower
those words
unspoken

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

春天陣雨
那些
未說出口的話

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

春天阵雨
那些
未说出口的话 


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Hamiltonian. She writes in awe and admiration of all those Japanese verse poets and editors who have encouraged her on this journey

Butterfly Dream: Garden Wedding Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

garden wedding --
the metallic wind chime
dances a tune

Shamrock, 2015

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

花園婚禮 --
金屬風鈴
有韻律般地擺動

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

花园婚礼 --
金属风铃
有韵律般地摆动 

Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Hamiltonian. She writes in awe and admiration of all those Japanese verse poets and editors who have encouraged her on this journey

One Man's Maple Moon: Old-Fashioned Girl Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

an old-fashioned girl
I reach for my address book ...
holding the cellphone
in my other hand
unsure how to call him

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我是守舊的女孩
一隻手找尋通訊錄 ...
另一隻手拿著手機
不確定如何
與他通話

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我是守旧的女孩
一只手找寻通讯录 ...
另一只手拿著手机
不确定如何
与他通话


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Hamiltonian. She writes in awe and admiration of all those Japanese verse poets and editors who have encouraged her on this journey

Butterfly Dream: Empty Hearse Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

an empty hearse
behind the hospital ...
afternoon shadows

Whispers, March 2015

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

醫院後面
一輛空的殯葬車 ...
午後的陰影

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

医院後面
一辆空的殡葬车 ...
午後的阴影


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse forms poet from Hamilton, New Zealand.  Anne has been writing poetry for about ten years with the encouragement of friends and family. She draws inspiration from the world around her. She has been fortunate to enjoy the wisdom of some fine editors and fellow poets.

One Man's Maple Moon: Snowflakes Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

he offers
to carry my skis
up the slope ...
snowflakes melting
on my tongue

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

他提議幫忙
攜帶我的滑雪板
上坡 ...
在我的舌頭上
雪花融化了

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

他提议帮忙
携带我的滑雪板
上坡 ...
在我的舌头上
雪花融化了


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse form poet who has been writing verse for the last three to four years in Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been helped along this journey by lovely, like-minded collaborators: poets, editors, and friends.

One Man's Maple Moon: Fake Laugh Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

my fake laugh
rumbles
until it's real ...
suddenly
tears in our eyes

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的假笑
喀喀作聲
直到它變成真的 ...
突然我們的眼睛裡
噙滿淚水

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的假笑
喀喀作声
直到它变成真的 ...
突然我们的眼睛
噙满泪水


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse form poet who has been writing verse for the last three to four years in Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been helped along this journey by lovely, like-minded collaborators: poets, editors, and friends.

One Man's Maple Moon: Loss Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

mourning the loss
of loved ones ...
I find comfort
in the slow release
of autumn leaves

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

哀悼親人
的亡故 ...
在秋天樹葉
緩慢地飄落之中
我找到安慰

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

哀悼亲人
的亡故 ...
在秋天树叶
缓慢地飘落之中
我找到安慰


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran is a Japanese verse form poet who has been writing verse for the last three to four years in Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been helped along this journey by lovely, like-minded collaborators: poets, editors, and friends.

One Man's Maple Moon: Struggle Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

Autumn gust
stirs trees to sway
and birds to flight
the struggle between
thinking, saying, doing…

Notes from the Gean, 18, April 2013

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

秋天的陣風
攪動林木搖擺
和群鳥亂飛
身陷在思考, 言說, 以及行動
之間的鬥爭 ...

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

秋天的阵风
搅动林木摇摆
和群鸟乱飞
身陷在思考, 言说, 以及行动
之间的鬥争 ...


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.

Butterfly Dream: Unfurling Smoke Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

a man alone
on the porch …
smoke unfurling

Bones, 1, 2012

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一人獨自
在門廊 ...
香煙繚繚上升

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一人独自
在门廊 ...
香烟缭缭上升


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.

One Man's Maple Moon: Fog of Dementia Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

driving to work
on a winter morning...
the fog
of her dementia
envelops me

Kokako, 21, September 2014

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一個冬天早晨
在開車去上班的途中 ...
她有老年癡呆症
的陰霾
籠罩著我

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一个冬天早晨
在开车去上班的途中 ...
她有老年癡呆症
的阴霾
笼罩著我


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.

One Man's Maple Moon: Dreamer Tanka by Anne Curran

English Original

a dreamer
with no-one knocking
on my door ...
a monarch butterfly
inside a glass jar

A Hundred Gourds, 3:3, June 2014

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

沒有人
敲我的門
的夢想家 ...
一隻君主蝶
困在玻璃瓶裡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

没有人
敲我的门
的梦想家 ...
一只君主蝶
困在玻璃瓶里


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.

Butterfly Dream: Winter Quilt Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

winter quilt
threads of conversation
between us  

Cattails, 1, January 2014

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

冬天的棉被
我們交談
的各式話題

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

冬天的棉被
我们交谈
的各式话题



Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.

Butterfly Dream: Yellowing Leaves Haiku by Anne Curran

English Original

a yellowing
of leaves on the oak …
I turn fifty

Modern Haiku, 45:3, Autumn 2014

Anne Curran


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

橡樹上
泛黃的葉子 ...
我今年半百

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

橡树上
泛黄的叶子 ...
我今年半百


Bio Sketch

Anne Curran comes from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has taught English, communications studies and English as a second language. While teaching she has taken time to write Japanese verse forms and a poetry collection. In her spare time she enjoys visiting Art galleries and watching films.