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

English Original

in your voice

whippoorwill,

there’s that love

for a field of reeds

where you were born

Third Place, 2013 San Francisco International Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka Contest

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在你的聲音裡

我聽到夜鷹的叫聲

有那份對一片蘆葦叢

的熱愛

那是你出生的地方

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在你的声音里

我听到夜鹰的叫声

有那份对一片芦苇丛

的热爱

那是你出生的地方

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.

Poetic Musings: Small Girl and Shadows Haiku by Michael McClintock

a small girl ...

the shadows stroke

and stroke her

Maya, 1975

Michael McClintock

Commentary: This is one of the most disturbing haiku, by genre a haiku noir, I've ever read.

It explores a dark theme of "child sexual harassment (or even worse, abuse)" by a group of people (as implied from the shadowS repeatedly strok[ing] a small girl). 

Technically speaking, combined with visually and symbolically rich "shadows" (not explicitly men or people), the use of repetition, "stroke and stroke," not only enhances the poetic rhythm, but also adds emotional weight and psychological depth to the haiku. 

What's left unsaid/what will come next is far more poignantly potent than what's stated in the haiku.

FYI: For more about haiku noir, see "To the Lighthouse: Haiku Noir" 

Biting NOT Barking: Small Girl and Shadows Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

a small girl ...

the shadows stroke

and stroke her

Maya, 1975

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一個小女孩 ...

一幫陰影撫摸

撫摸著她

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一个小女孩 ...

一帮阴影抚摸

抚摸着她

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: Butterfly Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

between sun and shade

a butterfly pauses

like none I've seen,

who ever falls in love

with someone they know?

Letters in Time, 2005

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在陽光與陰影之間

一隻蝴蝶停歇不動

這是我從未見過的

誰會愛上

自己認識的人？

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在阳光与阴影之间

一只蝴蝶停歇不动

这是我从未见过的

谁会爱上

自己认识的人？

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.

Butterfly Dream: Sandwich Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

half a sandwich

to eat slowly

again tonight

Jesus Leaving Vegas, 1976

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

今晚再一次

半個三明治

慢慢地吃

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

今晚再一次

半个三明治

慢慢地吃

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: Sketch Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

from the waterfall

I brought home a sketch

of a small fern

that stood by the torrent

and taught me to draw

Earth: Our Common Ground, 2017

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

從瀑布景點

我帶回家一幅素描:

長在激流旁

小蕨類植物

教我畫畫

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

从瀑布景点

我带回家一幅素描:

长在激流旁

小蕨类植物

教我画画

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.

Butterfly Dream: Cloud Shadow Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

across the sands

the rippling quiet

cloud shadow

The Haiku Anthology, 1999

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

穿越沙漠

這漣漪般的寧靜

一片雲影

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

穿越沙漠

这涟漪般的宁静

一片云影

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.

Butterfly Dream: Work Shirt Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

spring dream ...

slipping my wings

into a work shirt

Touchstone Award, 2015  

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

春之夢

我的翅膀滑入

一件工作襯衫

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

春之梦

我的翅膀滑入

一件工作衬衫

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: Elegy Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

with words

in a notebook

I’m painting

unseen, in plain sight, 

an elegy for the blues

Gusts, 32, Fall/Winter 2020  

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

在筆記本中

用筆墨

在眾目睽睽之下, 

我描繪看不見

的一首藍調輓歌

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在笔记本中

用笔墨

在众目睽睽之下,

我描绘看不见

的一首蓝调挽歌

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

Butterfly Dream: Dead Cat Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

dead cat ...

open-mouthed

to the pouring rain

The Haiku Anthology, 1986

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一隻死貓 ...

它的嘴巴張開

朝向傾盆大雨

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一只死猫 ...

它的嘴巴张开

朝向倾盆大雨

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: Each Other Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

in her letter

where tears had dried

the words were blurred --

that was how we always

understood each other

Tanka of Michael McClintock, Pinterest, 2011

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

在她的信中

淚水已乾的地方

文字變得模糊 --

我們總是這樣

互相理解對方

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在她的信中

泪水已干的地方

文字变得模糊 --

我们总是这样

互相理解对方

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

Butterfly Dream: Stormfront Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

stormfront ...

the quiet that sits

high in trees

Light Run, 1971

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

風暴前線 ...

一大片樹頂上

的寂靜

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

风暴前线 ...

一大片树顶上

的寂静

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.

Poetic Musings: Rain and Blood Haiku by Michael McClintock

a drizzling rain ...

washing their blood

into their blood

Light Run, 1971

Michael McClintock

Commentary: The use of repetition in this haiku about the Vietnam War is thematically significant and visually and emotionally poignant, and when juxtaposed with symbolically rich L1, it hints at the inevitable conclusion: nothing can clean/wash away the Blood of War.

To the best knowledge, Michael's sociopolitically conscious poem is the first English language haiku that dismantled the facade of haiku as the art of "singing about flowers and birds.” And it reminds me of the following penetrating insights into writing poetry in times of crisis and opportunity:

In a war situation or where violence and injustice are prevalent, "poetry is called upon to be something more than a thing of beauty." 

-- Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet, playwright and translator who received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. 

And a gentle reminder:

Poetry is insurrection, resurrection, and insubordination -- against amnesia of every sort, against every form of oppression, dispossession and indifference. And against the drowning noise of other words. 

-- Anne Michaels, Infinite Gradation

Notes:

1 There is a set of five haiku called 'Vietnam: Five Poems' in Light Run.

2 The phrase, "singing about flowers and birds,” refers to the famous declaration made by Takahama Kyoshi (1874 --1959), a student of Masaoka Shiki and the editor of the most influential haiku magazine, Hototogisu, during WWII, that "haiku was essentially the art of "singing about flowers and birds ..." and for more about Kyoshi’s involvement in wartime haiku persecution, see Itô Yûk's groundbreaking monograph, "The Evolution of Modern Japanese Haiku and the Haiku Persecution Incident, reprinted in Simply Haiku, 5:4, Winter 2007)

Added: This Brave New World, CX

written on World Children's Day, Nov. 20

after Michael McClintock

hazy twilight ...

rain washing a mother's blood

into her children's blood

FYI: Al Jazeera, Nov. 20: "World Children’s Day tragedy: Gaza’s 5,500 lives lost to Israel’s attacks"

One out of every 200 children in Gaza has been killed by Israeli attacks in the past six weeks...That is one Palestinian child killed every 10 minutes. 

Butterfly Dream: Rain and Blood Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

a drizzling rain ...

washing their blood

into their blood

Light Run, 1971

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

一場毛毛細雨 ...

洗淨他們的血

然後融入他們的血

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一场毛毛细雨 ...

洗净他们的血

然后融入他们的血

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.

Poetic Musings: Father's Shoulders Tanka by Michael McClintock

I’ve this memory --

riding my father’s shoulders

into the ocean,

the poetry of things

before I could speak

Tanka of Michael McClintock, Pinterest, 2011

Michael McClintock

Commentary: ...Even a child that cannot yet speak, may, like the readers of this tanka, intuitively grasp the poetry of a moment in time that defines meaning, significance or beauty in a novel and profound way. William Least Heat Moon spoke of those defining times in our lives most eloquently in his book, Blue Highways. For him, the moment was sharing a piece of old-fashioned buttermilk pie with new-found friends who had taken him in for the night on his long journey across the United States. For Michael McClintock a childhood memory was poetry and it became poetry for us as well as for himself, not through the use of excessive or impressive words, but through the sharing of an image that takes us into the experience with him. Tanka is traditionally imagistic, possessing the power and magic of images that take us beneath words to the essence of experience...

-- excerpted from "A Poet's Roving Thoughts: Dreaming Room" by Rebecca Drouilhet

It might be interesting to do a thematic comparative reading of my tanka below:

For my father who was born in mainland China, lived most of his adult life in Taiwan, died on Jan. 5 2022 and was buried there

this dream loop:

riding on my shoulders

into the Taiwan Strait

Father cries out, Mama

wait for me, I'm coming home

Pages Literary Journal, September 30, 2022

Butterfly Dream: Ripe Tomato Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

letting my tongue

deeper into the cool

ripe tomato

The Haiku Anthology, 1999

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

讓我的舌頭

更深地進入那陰涼

熟透的番茄裡面

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

让我的舌头

更深地进入那阴凉

熟透的番茄里面

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

One Man’s Maple Moon: Strangers Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

in a city 

drifting among 

strangers 

sometimes I want 

nothing more 

Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka, II, 2009

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

在一個城市

的陌生人當中

飄蕩

有時候

我什麼都不要

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在一个城市

的陌生人当中

飘荡

有时候

我什么都不要

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

Butterfly Dream: Argument Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

losing the argument

I look out a window

into space

Frogpond, 41:2, Spring/Summer 2018

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

輸掉爭論

我茫然地看著窗外

的事物

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

输掉争论

我茫然地看着窗外

的事物

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

Butterfly Dream: Heat Lightning Haiku by Michael McClintock

English Original

heat lightning --

all the way into Mexico

the mountains rise

The Heron's Nest, 2:5, may 2000

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

熱閃電 --

一直到墨西哥

群山升起

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

热闪电 --

一直到墨西哥

群山升起

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.

One Man’s Maple Moon: Father's Shoulders Tanka by Michael McClintock

English Original

I’ve this memory --

riding my father’s shoulders

into the ocean,

the poetry of things

before I could speak

Tanka of Michael McClintock, Pinterest, 2011

Michael McClintock

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

    

我有這樣的記憶 --

騎在父親的肩膀上

走進大海，

在我學會說話之前

體驗事物的詩意

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我有这样的记忆 --

骑在父亲的肩膀上

走进大海，

在我学会说话之前

体验事物的诗意

Bio Sketch

Michael McClintock's lifework in haiku, tanka, and related literature spans over four decades. His many contributions to the field include 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 now lives in Clovis, California, where he works 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, are some of his recent titles.