One Man's Maple Moon: Sorrow Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

knowing sorrow

won’t go sailing

or for a swim

I take a long walk

to the cliffs and back

      

First Place, 2012 San Francisco International Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka Contest

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

深知悲傷

不會出海航行

也不會去游泳

我選擇長途步行

走到懸崖邊再走回來

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

深知悲伤

不会出海航行

也不会去游泳

我选择长途步行

走到悬崖边再走回来

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spanned over four decades. His many contributions to the field included six years as president of the Tanka Society of America (2004-2010) and contributing editor, essayist, and poet for dozens of journals, anthologies, landmark collections and critical studies. McClintock lived in Clovis, California, where he worked as an independent scholar, consultant for public libraries, and poet. Meals at Midnight [tanka], Sketches from the San Joaquin [haiku] and Streetlights: Poetry of Urban Life in Modern English Tanka, were some of his recent titles.

One Man's Maple Moon: Skeleton Keys Tanka by Joanna Ashwell

English Original

skeleton keys

in a mirror glinting

at a doorway —

the transparency of rain

reconfigures our view

Joanna Ashwell

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

萬能鑰匙

在門口側邊鏡子中

閃閃發光 —

雨水的通透性

重塑我們的視野

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

万能钥匙

在门口侧边镜子中

闪闪发光 —

雨水的通透性

重塑我们的视野

 

Bio Sketch

Joanna Ashwell a short form poetry writer from the UK.  Published widely in many print and online journals.  She has been shortlisted for the Touchstone Award, has won awards and has served on the selection team for the Canadian tanka journal GUSTS.  Some of her poetry collections are available on Amazon.  River Lanterns, won the honorary Cherita award.  Moonset Song, Love’s Scriptures and Every Star (Tanka), Book Patronus (haiku & tanka) are also available on Amazon. 

One Man's Maple Moon: Cosmetics Tanka by Margaret Chula

English Original

those half-used tubes

of her cosmetics

why did I keep them?

rubbing in face cream

I feel my mother’s bones

Winter Deepens, 2018

Margaret Chula 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

那些用過一半的

她的化妝品

為什麼還要留著它們？

當塗抹乳霜時

我感覺到母親的骨頭

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

那些用过一半的

她的化妆品

为什么还要留着它们？

当涂抹乳霜时

我感觉到母亲的骨头

Bio Sketch

 

Margaret Chula has published two collections of tanka: Always Filling, Always Full and Just This. She has promoted tanka through her one-woman dramatization, “Three Women Who Loved Love”, which traveled to Krakow, New York, Boston, Portland, Ottawa, and Ogaki, Japan. And from 2011 to 2015, Maggie served as president of the Tanka Society of America.

One Man's Maple Moon: (De)light Tanka by Lafcadio

English Original

(de)light

in a child's eyes

eclipses

the light

of the sun

Lafcadio

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

(喜悅)光芒

在孩子眼中

遮掩

太陽

的光亮

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

(喜悦)光芒

在孩子眼中

遮掩

太阳

的光亮

Bio Sketch

Lafcadio is a writer and poet living in eastern Tennessee. Her haiku, senyru, tanka and haibun have been exhibited in journals and anthologies.  During the full moon she dreams of rabbits.

One Man's Maple Moon: Haze Tanka by Susan Constable

English Original

ocean salt

spatters the windows

by winter’s end

I peer through a haze

of might-have-beens

The Eternity of Waves, 2017

Susan Constable

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

海鹽

濺落在窗戶上

到了冬末

透過一層薄霧我凝視

那些可能發生卻未發生的事情

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

海盐

溅落在窗户上

到了冬末

透过一层薄雾我凝视

那些可能发生却未发生的事情

Bio Sketch

Susan Constable (1943–2026) was an award-winning Canadian poet whose haiku and tanka appeared widely in global journals. She authored the acclaimed collection The Eternity of Waves and served as tanka editor for A Hundred Gourds (2012–2016). Constable also co-edited multiple anthologies and judged numerous international short-form poetry contests.

One Man's Maple Moon: Neon Lights Tanka by Christine Judd

English Original

neon lights

fade in dawn's lilac glow

on the footpath

clubbers, drug-fucked

in bedraggled revelry

Christine Judd

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

霓虹燈

在黎明淡紫色的光芒中漸漸消逝

人行道上

嗑藥後神智不清的夜店派對舞者

沉醉於衣衫襤褸地狂歡

    

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

霓虹灯

在黎明淡紫色的光芒中渐渐消逝

人行道上

嗑药后神智不清的夜店派对舞者

沉醉于衣衫褴褛地狂欢

Bio Sketch

Christine Judd is an Australian writer and poet living in the Orange wine region of New South Wales. She has resided in Sydney and India for many years previously. Chris has recently rediscovered her love for haiku, senryu and tanka. By day, she works in the mental health field and has written books on emotions and trauma.

One Man's Maple Moon: Color of Love Tanka by Izumi Shikibu

English Original

in this world

love has no color --

yet how deeply

my body

is stained by yours

The Ink Dark Moon, 1990

Izumi Shikibu

 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在這個世上

愛情是沒有顏色 --

然而我的身體

卻被你的愛

深深地染紅

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在这个世上

爱情是没有颜色 --

然而我的身体

却被你的爱

深深地染红

 

 

Bio Sketch

A renowned poet and diarist from the 10th-11th century, Izumi Shikibu married twice and was the lover of both Prince Tametaka and Prince Atsumichi, Tametaka’s brother. Her poems and correspondence, part of a tradition of court love poetry, frequently combine erotic and romantic longing with Buddhist contemplation.

Biting NOT Barking: Shelter Tanka by Marion Alice Poirier

English Original

under the shelter

of a weeping willow tree

she sleeps at last

on damp earth and newspapers --

a haven, for one night

Marion Alice Poirier

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一棵垂柳

的蔭蔽之下

躺在潮濕泥土和報紙上面

她終於睡著了 --

一個避風港, 僅僅一晚

    

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一棵垂柳

的荫蔽之下

躺在潮湿泥土和报纸上面

她终于睡着了 --

一个避风港, 仅仅一晚

Bio Sketch

Marion Alice Poirier is a lifetime resident of Boston, MA. She began writing haiku in 2001 and eventually began to teach haiku in workshops on Poetry Circle and Emerging Poets. She also write short poetry and have been published in on-line haiku and short poetry journals like Tinywords, Hedgerow and The Heron's Nest.

One Man's Maple Moon: Two Pebbles Tanka by Brendon Kent

English Original

two pebbles

and the river’s song

this willow

dancing the same way

you always did

(for Martha Magenta)

Love: The British Haiku Society Members’ Tanka Anthology,  2020

Brendon Kent 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

兩顆鵝卵石

以及河流的歌聲

這棵柳樹

像往常一樣隨風起舞

你一直都是這樣

(獻給瑪莎‧瑪金塔）

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

两颗鹅卵石

以及河流的歌声

这棵柳树

像往常一样随风起舞

你一直都是这样

(献给玛莎‧玛金塔）

Bio Sketch

    

Brendon Kent lived in Botley, an old countryside village in Southern England (circa 890 A.D.) Born in the late 50's he had written poetry for many years preferring the "short forms." Brendon's haiku/senryu were published worldwide in many leading books and journals. He was a member of the British Haiku Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Motorcycle Riders Tanka by David McMurray

English Original

Locking the cottage

the motorcycle riders

kick-start a trip down south

po-potato-potato

po-potato-potato

David McMurray 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

鎖上度假小屋

一群摩托車騎士們

開啟南下之旅

撲通撲通撲通的引擎聲

撲通撲通撲通的引擎聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

锁上度假小屋

一群摩托车骑士们

开启南下之旅

扑通扑通扑通的引擎声

扑通扑通扑通的引擎声

Bio Sketch

David McMurray edits the Asahi Haikuist Network. He lives in Japan, but travels 3 or 4 times a year to Taiwan to enjoying the food and festivals -- including the moon festival -- in Taipei and Kaoshiung.

One Man's Maple Moon: Plainclothes Cop Tanka by Lorraine Pester

English Original

boy's deck shoes

a paisley tie, pink and torn

compression socks

thin legs wrapped in loose capris

a plainclothes cop in the ladies' room

Lorraine Pester

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

男孩的甲板鞋

一條佩斯利花紋領帶, 粉紅色並撕破了

壓力襪

細腿裹在寬鬆的七分褲裡

女廁的一名便衣警察

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

男孩的甲板鞋

一条佩斯利花纹领带, 粉红色并撕破了

压力袜

细腿裹在宽松的七分裤里

女厕的一名便衣警察

Bio Sketch

Being curious and staying open to possibility is Lorraine Pester’s way of keeping her haikai fresh. She shies from no topic that presents itself. Her deliberate interactions with birds while dog walking is a frequent theme. She lives with her husband and  Abbey schnauzer in south Texas. 

One Man's Maple Moon: Chains of Connection Tanka by Sanford Goldstein

English Original

almost broken,

broken,

chains of connection,

some having died,

some corridor silent

This Short Life: Minimalist Tanka, 2014

Sanford Goldstein 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

幾乎斷裂了,

已經斷裂了,

這些人際關係鏈,

有些人已經過世,

某條走廊寂靜無聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

几乎断裂了,

已经断裂了,

这些人际关系链,

有些人已经过世,

某条走廊寂静无声

Bio Sketch

Long ago, Sanford Goldstein wrote haiku, but decided to focus on tanka. His latest books, three in two years, have each said this would be his last. The Tanka Society of America renamed its international tanka contest for him in 2015; and he has been called the grandfather of tanka in English. 

One Man's Maple Moon: Heated Bodies Tanka by Jane Reichhold

English Original

almond nails 

pressed into brown skin

a faint perfume 

of two heated bodies

touching light as petals 

A Gift of Tanka, 1990

Jane Reichhold

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

杏仁色的指甲

壓入棕色的皮膚

散發出淡淡的香水味

兩個激情發熱的身體

觸摸花瓣般的光

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

杏仁色的指甲

压入棕色的皮肤

散发出淡淡的香水味

两个激情发热的身体

触摸花瓣般的光

Bio Sketch

Jane Reichhold was born as Janet Styer in 1937 in Lima , Ohio , USA . She had published over thirty books of haiku, renga, tanka, and translations. Her latest tanka book, Taking Tanka Home was translated into Japanese by Aya Yuhki. Her most popular book is Basho The Complete Haiku by Kodansha International. As founder and editor of AHA Books, Jane also published Mirrors: International Haiku Forum, Geppo, for the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society, and she had co-edited with Werner Reichhold, Lynx for Linking Poets since 1992. Lynx went online in 2000 in AHApoetry.com the web site Jane started in 1995. Since 2006 she had maintained an online forum – AHAforum

One Man's Maple Moon: Without Love Tanka by M. Kei

English Original

a migraine,

a pill,

a sweltering afternoon,

clouds without rain,

days without love 

January, A Tanka Diary, 2013

M. Kei

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

偏頭痛，

一粒藥，

一個悶熱的午後，

有雲無雨，

沒有愛的日子

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

偏头痛，

一粒药，

一个闷热的午后，

有云无雨，

没有爱的日子

Bio Sketch

M. Kei is a tall ship sailor and award-winning poet who lives on Maryland’s Eastern shore. He is the editor of Atlas Poetica: A Journal of World Tanka. His most recent collection of poetry is January, A Tanka Diary. He is also the author of the award-winning gay Age of Sail adventure novels, Pirates of the Narrow Seas. He can be followed on Twitter @kujakupoet, or visit AtlasPoetica.org.

One Man's Maple Moon: Childhood Home Tanka by Marilyn Humbert

English Original

my childhood home

framed by river redgums --

I stumble

over exposed roots

and family scandals

 

First Place, UHTS Fleeting Words Tanka Competition, 2021

Marilyn Humbert

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我童年房子的景色

被一大群河畔紅桉樹框住

我走過絆倒了

因為它們過度暴露的根部

以及家庭的醜聞

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我童年房子的景色

被一大群河畔红桉树框住

我走过绊倒了

因为它们过度暴露的根部

以及家庭的丑闻

Bio Sketch

Marilyn Humbert lives in the Northern suburbs of Sydney NSW Australia. Her tanka and haiku appear in international and Australian journals, anthologies and online. Her free verse poems have been awarded prizes in competitions and some have been published.

One Man's Maple Moon: Final Glance Tanka by Sonam Chhoki

English Original

a final glance

through rain-splatttered screen

my ancestral home

so much left behind

so much carried with me

Atlas Poetica, 9, Summer 2011

Sonam Chhoki 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

透過雨滴濺濕的紗窗

的最後一瞥

我的祖屋

留下這麼多東西未帶走

我仍然帶走這麼多東西

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

透过雨滴溅湿的纱窗

的最后一瞥

我的祖屋

留下这么多东西未带走

我仍然带走这么多东西

Bio Sketch

Sonam Chhoki finds the Japanese short form poetry resonates with her Tibetan Buddhist upbringing.  She is inspired by her father, Sonam Gyamtsho, the architect of Bhutan's non-monastic modern education and by her mother, Chhoden Jangmu, who taught her: “Being a girl doesn’t mean you can’t do anything.” She is the principal editor, and co-editor of haibun for the United Haiku and Tanka Society journal, cattails.

One Man's Maple Moon: Headstones Tanka by Paul Williamson

English Original

in pale sunshine

granite boulders dot the paddocks ... 

I remember

the headstones for miners

who once rushed here for gold

Paul Williamson

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在蒼白的陽光下

花崗岩巨石點綴著牧場 ...

我記得

曾經趕往這裡淘金

的礦工墓碑

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在苍白的阳光下

花岗岩巨石点缀着牧场 ...

我记得

曾经赶往这里淘金

的矿工墓碑

Bio Sketch

Paul Williamson is an Australian poet who has published poems on eclectic topics in magazines including Neverending Story, Eucalypt, Tanka Music Anthology, Ragged Edges, Poems to Wear, Poetry Bridges, Atlas Poetica, Gusts, Skylark, Ribbons, Quadrant and Cordite.  He writes poems to clarify feelings and impressions, and record them. He has five collections: The DNA Bookshelf, Moments from Red Hill, To the Spice Islands, Edge of Southern Bright and Ties to Red Hill  in 2018.

One Man's Maple Moon: Urn Tanka by Mary Gunn

English Original

last journey

first time in a mercedes

then a guinness urn ...

the gates are grey, not pearly

bloody hell, is this it?

Neon Graffiti, 2016

Mary Gunn

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

最後的旅程

第一次坐賓士轎車

然後是吉尼斯骨灰罈 ...

Translation resul

大門是灰色, 不是珍珠色

該死, 是這裡嗎?

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

最后的旅程

第一次坐宾士轿车

然后是吉尼斯骨灰坛 ...

大门是灰色, 不是珍珠色

该死, 是这里吗?

Bio Sketch

Mary Gunn has been writing haiku, tanka and cherita for several years. Her tanka has appeared in a variety of publications, both online and in print, including Eucalypt, Blithe Spirit, Presence, Moonbathing, Atlas Poetica, cattails and Poetry Quarterly.

One Man's Maple Moon: Kimono Tanka by Pamela A. Babusci

English Original

long rainy season —

her thin kimono

heavy with grief  

the unbearable weight

of another stillborn

First Prize, 2022 San Francisco International Haiku/Senryu & Tanka Competition

Pamela A. Babusci

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

漫長的雨季 — 

她的單薄和服

背負沉重的悲痛

另一個無法承受

的死胎重擔

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

漫长的雨季 — 

她的单薄和服

背负沉重的悲痛

另一个无法承受

的死胎重担

 

Bio Sketch

Pamela A. Babusci  is an internationally award winning haiku, tanka poet and haiga artist. Some of her awards include: Museum of Haiku Literature Award, International Tanka Splendor Awards, First Place Yellow Moon Competition (Aust) tanka category,  First Place Kokako Tanka Competition,(NZ) First Place Saigyo Tanka Awards (US), Basho Festival Haiku Contests (Japan).  Pamela has illustrated several books, including: Full Moon Tide: The Best of Tanka Splendor Awards, Taboo Haiku, Chasing the Sun, Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka, and A Thousand Reasons 2009. Pamela was the founder and now is the solo Editor of Moonbathing: a journal of women’s tanka; the first all women’s tanka journal in the US.

One Man's Maple Moon: Absence Tanka by Joanna Ashwell

English Original

the reality

of losing you forever

taps my shoulder

in rainfall, in wind,

in your absence

Joanna Ashwell

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在雨中，風中

你不在的時候

永遠會失去你

的現實

輕拍我的肩膀

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在雨中，风中，

你不在的时候

永远会失去你

的现实

轻拍我的肩膀

 

Bio Sketch

Joanna Ashwell, a writer from the North East of England. Has been a tutor, pharmacy dispenser and administrator.   Enjoys reading and writing various Japanese poetry forms and is a member of many linked organisations.  Has been published in Blithe Spirit, Stardust, Ribbons, Eucalpt, Frogpond, The Heron’s Nest, Atlas Poetica, The Cherita Journal  and others.