Butterfly Dream: Sakura Blossoms Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

sakura blossoms

loose in an envelope

priority mail

USA Winner, Haiku Invitational, 2019

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

盛開的櫻花

寬鬆地裝在信封裡

優先郵件

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

盛开的樱花

宽松地装在信封里

优先邮件

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Night Crossing Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

night crossing

Tijuana border guard

in dark glasses

First Prize, Haiku Society of America Senryu Award, 2014

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

夜間過境

蒂華納邊境警衛

戴著墨鏡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

夜间过境

蒂华纳边境警卫

戴着墨镜

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Theatre Curtain Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

in winter 

nightfall is much like

the dropping

of a theatre curtain ...

the show is over, go home

Eucalypt, 33, 2023

Neal Whitman

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

冬天

的夜幕降臨很像

劇場布幕

的下落 ...

演出結束, 回家吧

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

冬天

的夜幕降临很像

剧场布幕

的下落 ...

演出结束, 回家吧

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman is a member of Tanka Society of America and is Vice President of United Haiku and Tanka Society. He lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, Elaine, where walking along Monterey Bay helps them cope with the  pandemic. They wear masks out of respect for others.

Butterfly Dream: Shifting Sands Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

two friends on the beach

agree to disagree

shifting sands

Haikuniverse, August 20, 2015

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

兩個朋友在海灘上

承認他們的意見不一致

流沙

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

两个朋友在海滩上

承认他们的意见不一致

流沙

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Hummingbird Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

a hummingbird

sips from morning glory

and speeds off

my day starts at a pace

much slower with less drama

Neal Whitman

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一隻蜂鳥

從牽牛花中啜飲花蜜

然後加速飛走

我的一天以較少的戲劇性

較慢的速度展開了

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一只蜂鸟

从牵牛花中啜饮花蜜

然后加速飞走

我的一天以较少的戏剧性

较慢的速度展开了

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman is a member of Tanka Society of America and is Vice President of United Haiku and Tanka Society. He lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, Elaine, where walking along Monterey Bay helps them cope with the  pandemic. They wear masks out of respect for others.

Butterfly Dream: Well-Thumbed Book Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

chemotherapy

photographs of the Taj Mahal

in a well-thumbed book

World Monument Fund Semi-Finalist, 2013

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

化學治療

在一本經常翻閱的書中

一些泰姬陵的照片

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

化学治疗

在一本经常翻阅的书中

一些泰姬陵的照片

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Tobacco Ash Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

sundown --

tobacco ash stamped

into the sand

Blyth's Spirit, 2013

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

夕陽西下 --

煙草灰被踩入

沙中

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

夕阳西下 --

烟草灰被踩入

沙中

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Morning Icicle Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

alone in my bed

rain returned without warning  --

morning icicle

Honorable Mention, 2019 Yuki Teikei Haiku Society Annual Contest

Neal Whitman 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

獨自躺在床上

毫無徵兆地昨晚又下雨了 --

今天早晨的冰柱

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

独自躺在床上

毫无征兆地昨晚又下雨了 --

今天早晨的冰柱

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Cooking Show Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

in the waiting room
a cooking show on the TV
and a fish tank  --
one guppy circling
one belly up

Neal Whitman 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在候診室內

觀看電視上的烹飪節目

和一個魚缸 --

一隻孔雀魚不停地兜圈子

另一隻翻肚子

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在候诊室内

观看电视上的烹饪节目

和一个鱼缸 --

一只孔雀鱼不停地兜圈子

另一只翻肚子

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Winter Fog Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

winter fog 
might as well be blind
in this void
the only sound 
my walking stick
    
red lights, December 2018

Neal Whitman 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

冬季濃霧 

不如是個瞎子

在這個恍惚空間 

唯一發出聲音

是我的手杖 

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

冬季浓雾

不如是个瞎子

在这个恍惚空间

唯一发出声音

是我的手杖 

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Veterans Day Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

the offshore fog
casts a pall
Veterans Day

Neal Whitman

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

海上的霧
像是撒下陰沉的雲團 --
退伍軍人節

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

海上的雾
像是撒下阴沉的云团-
退伍军人节

 

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman is a member of Tanka Society of America and is Vice President of United Haiku and Tanka Society. He lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, Elaine, where walking along Monterey Bay helps them cope with the pandemic. They wear masks out of respect for others.

One Man's Maple Moon: Tea Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

two cups of tea
poured from a cast iron pot
are not the same --
into each you and I
stir our own memories
    
Eucalypt, 24, 2018

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

從鐵鑄的壺
倒出來的兩杯茶
有不一樣的口感 --

在你們每個人的心中
我喚起我們自己的回憶

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

从铁铸的壶
倒出来的两杯茶
有不一样的口感 --
在你们每个人的心中
我唤起我们自己的回忆

Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Well-Thumbed Book Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

chemotherapy
photographs of the Taj Mahal
in a well-thumbed book

World Monument Fund Semi-Finalist, 2013

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

化學治療
一本精心編寫的書中
泰姬陵的照片

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

化学治疗
一本精心编写的书中
泰姬陵的照片 


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Tideline Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

one always
dies too soon or too late --
below the tideline
my name drawn with a stick
has been washed out to sea
   
Eucalypt, April 2018

Neal Whitman 


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

每個人總是
死得太早或太遲 --
在潮線的下方
我用棍子畫出來的名字
已經被沖到大海裡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

每个人总是
死得太早或太迟 --
在潮线的下方
我用棍子画出来的名字
已经被冲到大海里


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Second Chance Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

no one
gives me a second chance
jury duty

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

沒有人
給我第二次的機會
擔任陪審的義務

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

没有人
给我第二次的机会
担任陪审的义务


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Game of Hopscotch Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

my whole life
a game of hopscotch --
harder at seventy
to hop from square to square
without stepping on the lines

Ripples in the Sand, 2016

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的一生
就是跳房子遊戲 --
人到七十歲很難
從一個方格跳到另一個方格
而不會踩到線

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的一生
就是跳房子游戏 --
人到七十岁很难
从一个方格跳到另一个方格
而不会踩到线


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Wood Ducks Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

wood ducks in descent
cassoulet simmering
at dusk

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一群木鴨紛紛飛下來
傍晚時刻法式慢燉菜
散發微光

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一群木鸭飞下来
傍晚时刻法式慢炖菜
散发微光


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives with his wife, Elaine, in Pacific Grove, California, where he is a docent at Point Pinos Lighthouse. Visitors who come there from near and far inspire him to write poetry that takes the “particular" to convey the “universal". Neal is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

Butterfly Dream: Midnight Basketball Haiku by Neal Whitman

English Original

midnight basketball
the clang of a netless rim
under crescent moon

Finalist, 2011 Ito En Haiku Grand Prix

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

午夜打籃球
蛾眉月下無網籃框
發出的鏗鏘聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

午夜打篮球
蛾眉月下无网篮框
发出的铿锵声 


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife Elaine. He is the haiku editor for Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine and is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Masseuse Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

I lie face down
not in supplication
the masseuse
invites me to surrender
the arms I carried to war
   
Skylark, 4.2, Winter 2016

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

臉朝下躺著
我不是在懇求
女按摩師請我舉起
曾攜帶武器去打仗
的雙手

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

脸朝下躺着
我不是在恳求
女按摩师请我举起
曾携带武器去打仗
的双手 


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife Elaine. He is the haiku editor for Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine and is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.

One Man's Maple Moon: Gypsy Music Tanka by Neal Whitman

English Original

a lion
a woman and a mandolin
under the moon
rumors of warm daybreak
Gypsy music in a dream

Honorable Mention, 2017 Bay Area Poets Coalition Contest

Neal Whitman


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一隻獅子
一個女人和一把曼陀林
在月光之下
溫暖黎明的謠言
和睡夢中的吉普賽音樂

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一只狮子
一个女人和一把曼陀林
在月光之下
温暖黎明的谣言
和睡梦中的吉普赛音乐


Bio Sketch

Neal Whitman lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife Elaine. He is the haiku editor for Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine and is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.