Butterfly Dream: Cancer and Shadow Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

surviving cancer                                                         

I am two feet taller

than my shadow

Scarlet Dragonfly Journal, 13, April 2023

Karen O’Leary

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

存活度過癌症

我比我的影子

高了兩英尺

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

存活度过癌症

我比我的影子

高了两英尺

Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a freelance writer from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Hedgerow, Haikuniverse, Frogpond, Setu, Fine Lines, Shot Glass Journal and Quill & Parchment. Karen edited an international online journal called Whispers for 5 ½ years. She enjoys sharing the gift of words.

Butterfly Dream: Manse Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

behind the doors
of the manse --
bruised reeds

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

牧師館大門
的外面 --
壓傷的蘆葦

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

牧师馆大门
的外面 --
压伤的芦苇


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, Setu, A Hundred Gourds, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edited an international online journal called Whispers for 5 ½ years. She enjoys sharing the gift of words.

Butterfly Dream: Frat Initiation Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

roasting freshmen
for a frat initiation ...
one dead

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

為加入兄弟會
大一新生們遭折磨 ...
一人慘死

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

为加入兄弟会
大一新生们遭折磨 ...
一人惨死


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edited an international online journal called Whispers  for 5 ½ years. She enjoys sharing the gift of words.

Butterfly Dream: Buffalo Bones Haiku by Karen O'Leary

English Original

buffalo bones --
dust blows off
the Dakota plains

Karen O'Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

水牛骨頭 --
達科他平原
灰塵四起

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

水牛骨头 --
达科他平原
灰尘四起


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edits an online journal called Whispers.

One Man's Maple Moon: Same Lines Tanka by Karen O’Leary

English Original

another round
of Miller Lights!
the guys hoot
over the same lines
for 20 years

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

再來一巡
米勒淡啤酒！
二十年來
這些傢伙叫嚷著
同樣的話

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

再来一巡
米勒淡啤酒！
二十年来
这些家伙叫嚷着
同样的话


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edits an online journal called Whispers.

One Man's Maple Moon: Farm Tanka by Karen O’Leary

English Original

last trek
around the farm …
grandpa and I
sip coffee
out of cracked cups

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在農場附近
的最後一段行程 ...
爺爺和我
使用有裂紋的杯子
喝咖啡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在农场附近
的最后一段行程 ...
爷爷和我
使用有裂纹的杯子
喝咖啡


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, bear creek haiku, Shemom, Creative Inspirations and NeverEnding Story. She edits an online journal called Whispers She enjoys sharing the gift of words.

Butterfly Dream: Cancer Vigil Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

wax slides
off the candle
cancer vigil

bear creek haiku, March 2016

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

蠟一滴一滴地
從蠟燭上滑落
為癌症病人守夜

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

蜡一滴一滴地
从蜡烛上滑落
为癌症病人守夜 


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers

One Man's Maple Moon: Bicycle Tanka by Karen O'Leary

English Original

alone
on a bicycle
built for two ...
a hill
I can't climb

A Hundred Gourds, 5:3, June 2016

Karen O'Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

獨自
騎乘兩人共用
的自行車 ...
那座山丘
我無法爬攀

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

独自
骑乘两人共用
的自行车...
那座山丘
我无法爬攀


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers

Butterfly Dream: Windstorm Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

windstorm
the wheat bent
but not broken

Showcase Haiku, Sketchbook, 6:5, September/October 2011

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

風暴
小麥彎曲
但不斷裂

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

风暴
小麦弯曲
但不断裂


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers

Butterfly Dream: Independence Day Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

Bursts of red
as bullets crack --
Independence Day

Asahi Haikuist Network, July 15, 2016

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

當子彈爆裂時
鮮血四濺 --
獨立紀念日

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

当子弹爆裂时
鲜血四溅 --
独立纪念日


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers

One Man's Maple Moon: Ashes Tanka by Karen O’Leary

English Original

dad's ashes float
in autumn's breeze
he becomes one
with the woods
he loved

Season’s Greeting Letter, 2014

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

爸爸的骨灰
漂浮在秋天微風之中
他與所愛
的林木
合而為一

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

爸爸的骨灰
漂浮在秋天微风之中
他与所爱
的林木
合而为一


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers .

One Man's Maple Moon: Cedar Chest Tanka by Karen O’Leary

English Original

grandma tucks
his old hat
in her cedar chest
unable to pack
grief with it

Moonbathing, 11, Fall/Winter 2014

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

祖母
將他的舊帽子
擠入杉木櫃內
卻無法用它來封裝
她的悲傷

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

祖母
将他的旧帽子
挤入杉木柜内
却无法用它来封装
她的悲伤


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World. She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers

Butterfly Dream: Fifties Night Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

fifties night
a 45 spins
with a twist

this world, 2013

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

五零年代之夜
四十五轉唱片
歪曲地旋轉
   
Chinese Translation (Simplified)

五零年代之夜
四十五转唱片
歪曲地旋转


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND.  She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix,  Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014, Now This: Contemporary Poems of Beginnings, Renewals and Firsts, Creative Inspirations, and Poems of the World.  She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers.

Butterfly Dream: Monarch Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

the velvet
of a monarch ...
mom's heart

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

帝王蝶
的天鵝絨般翅膀 ...
母親的心意

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

帝王蝶
的天鹅绒般翅膀 ...
母亲的心意


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry in a variety of venues including Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014,  and Poems of the World. She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers .

Butterfly Dream: First Ballet Haiku by Karen O’Leary

English Original

the flutter
of a butterfly --
her first ballet

Karen O’Leary


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一隻蝴蝶
鼓翅而飛 --
她的第一支芭蕾舞

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一只蝴蝶
鼓翅而飞 --
她的第一支芭蕾舞


Bio Sketch

Karen O’Leary is a writer and editor from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry in a variety of venues including Frogpond, A Hundred Gourds, Haiku Pix, Sharpening the Green Pencil 2014,  and Poems of the World. She currently edits an online poetry journal called Whispers .