One Man's Maple Moon: Silk Tree Tanka by Kiyoko Ogawa

English Original

pressing my ear

against the trunk of a silk tree

moist with mist

I enquire about the tidings

of those out of sight

Songs for Spirits, 2022

Kiyoko Ogawa

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的耳朵

貼近一棵合歡樹

因霧氣潮溼的樹幹

我打聽一些消息有關

那些不在世上的人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的耳朵

贴近一棵合欢树

因雾气潮湿的树干

我打听一些消息有关

那些不在世上的人

Bio Sketch

Kiyoko Ogawa (1952--) is a Kyoto-born poet, essayist, and academic.

One Man's Maple Moon: Mother Tanka by Kiyoko Ogawa

English Original

camellia blooms hiding
in a deserted garden --
that colour of rouge
mother used to put on
when young

A Single Flower: 100 Bilingual Tanka 2003-2014

Kiyoko Ogawa


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

盛開的山茶花隱藏
在一個荒廢的花園裡 --
年輕的時候
媽媽曾習慣於使用
那胭脂的顏色來妝扮自己

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

盛开的山茶花隐藏
在一个荒废的花园里 --
年轻的时候
妈妈曾习惯于使用
那胭脂的颜色来妆扮自己


Bio Sketch

Kiyoko Ogawa is a Kyoto-born poet, essayist and academic.  She has published five English and three Japanese books of poetry as well as a monograph on T.S.Eliot.  Her recent publication is A Single Flower: 100 Bilingual Tanka 2003-2014.

One Man's Maple Moon: Newly-Built House Tanka by Kiyoko Ogawa

English Original

every time I see
a newly-built house
slight sadness
emerges
from nowhere

A Single Flower: 100 Bilingual Tanka 2003-2014

Kiyoko Ogawa


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

每次我看到
一棟新建的房子
沒有緣由
就會浮現
些微悲傷的感覺

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

每次我看到
一栋新建的房子
没有缘由
就会浮现
些微悲伤的感觉


Bio Sketch

Kiyoko Ogawa is a Kyoto-born poet, essayist and academic.  She has published five English and three Japanese books of poetry as well as a monograph on T.S.Eliot.  Her recent publication is A Single Flower: 100 Bilingual Tanka 2003-2014.

One Man's Maple Moon: Single Flower Tanka by Kiyoko Ogawa

English Original

all my life
I expect no grand bouquet
yet wish for
someone to greet me
with a single flower

Scribblings Award, Eucalypt, 14, 2013

Kiyoko Ogawa 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的一生
沒有期待盛大的花束
但是希望
有人會手拿一朵花
來迎接我

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的一生
没有期待盛大的花束
但是希望
有人会手拿一朵花
来迎接我


Bio Sketch

Kiyoko Ogawa is a Kyoto-born poet, essayist and academic.  She has published five English and three Japanese books of poetry as well as a monograph on T.S.Eliot.  Her recent publication is A Single Flower: 100 Bilingual Tanka 2003-2014.