One Man's Maple Moon: Ordinary Day Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

an ordinary day
with ordinary thoughts
until I find someone
with my exact name
in the obituaries               

Atlas Poetica, 2016

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

平凡的一天
有著平凡的想法
直到在訃告中
我發現某人和我
有相同的名字

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

平凡的一天
有着平凡的想法
直到在讣告中
我发现某人和我
有相同的名字 


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Spring Rain Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

spring rain
a sprinkle of arpeggios
from the street musician

Take a Deep Breath, 2002

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

春雨
來自街頭音樂家
一系列的琶音

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

春雨
来自街头音乐家
一系列的琶音


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Crying Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

my new neighbor
can hear her crying
now and then --
my friend who lived there
before she took her own life   

Atlas Poetica Special Feature: Supernatural Tanka, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的新鄰居
不時地可以聽到
她的哭聲 --
在自殺之前我的朋友
曾經住在那裡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的新邻居
不时地可以听到
她的哭声 -
在自杀之前我的朋友
曾经住在那里


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Headstone Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

a soldier's headstone 
from one date to another
so short a line

First Prize, 2008 Ukiah Festival

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一個士兵的墓碑
從一個日期到另一個日期
如此短的歲數

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一个士兵的墓碑
从一个日期到另一个日期
如此短的岁数


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Taste Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

breaking off an icicle
         the taste of metal
                   and my childhood

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

弄碎一根冰柱
       金屬的味道
              以及我的童年

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

弄碎一根冰柱
       金属的味道
              以及我的童年


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Doomed Love Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

the professor drones
on and on about novels
of doomed love
I ask myself
what other kind is there

Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka, Vol. 4, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

教授用單調聲音
不斷地談論   
注定要失敗愛情的小說
我問自己
那裡有另一種愛情

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

教授用单调声音
不断地谈论   
注定要失败爱情的小说
我问自己
那里有另一种爱情


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Horizon Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Sun on the horizon
a child tosses sand
back into the sea

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

地平線上的太陽
一個孩子將沙子扔回
到海裡

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

地平线上的太阳
一个孩子将沙子扔回
到海里


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a former Frogpond editor, is the author of Take a Deep Breath, The Haiku Way to Inner Peace. Her latest book, What Light There Is, consists of haiku, senryu, and tanka, with art work by Ion Codrescu. Both books have been selected for permanent inclusion in the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Heart Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

We talk about
which one of us will stay
who will go
the stone in my heart
when did it become my heart

Fire Pearls, 2, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我們談論
哪一個會留下來
哪一個會離去
什麼時候在我心中的石頭
竟然成為我的心

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我们谈论
哪一个会留下来
哪一个会离去
什么时候在我心中的石头
竟然成为我的心


Bio Sketch

Internationally known poet Sylvia Forges-Ryan is a former Editor of Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America, and author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace.

One Man's Maple Moon: River of Longing Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

long ago
I believed
time would wear it away
this ever-flowing river
of my longing

Fire Pearls, 2, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

很久以前
我相信
時間會將它沖逝
這個不斷流動
我的渴望之河

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

很久以前
我相信
时间会将它冲逝
这个不断流动
我的渴望之河


Bio Sketch

Internationally known poet Sylvia Forges-Ryan is a former Editor of Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America, and author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace.

Butterfly Dream: Autumn Chill Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Autumn chill
the sound of the wind
on its way to the sea        

tinywords,14:2, October 28, 2014

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

秋天的涼意
奔向大海途中
風的聲音

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

秋天的凉意
奔向大海途中
风的声音


Bio Sketch

Internationally known poet Sylvia Forges-Ryan is a former Editor of Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America, and author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace.

Butterfly Dream: Narrow Path Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Taking the narrow path
I follow the song
of an unknown bird    

Chrysanthemum, 18, October 2015

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

步上窄路
我追尋不知名鳥
的歌聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

步上窄路
我追寻不知名鸟
的歌声

Bio Sketch

Internationally known poet Sylvia Forges-Ryan is a former Editor of Frogpond, the journal of the Haiku Society of America, and author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace.

One Man's Maple Moon: Spring Cleaning Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

spring cleaning
a few love tanka
for my eyes only
shoved back
under the rug

Fire Pearls 2: Short Masterpieces of Love and Passion, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

春季大掃除
我將幾首自己欣賞之用
的愛情短歌
再一次   
隱藏起來

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

春季大扫除
我将几首自己欣赏之用
的爱情短歌
再一次   
隐藏起来


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Pine Shadows Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Winter afternoon
pine shadows deepen
the pond's stillness

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

冬日午後
松樹的陰影加深
池塘的寂靜

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

冬日午後
松树的阴影加深
池塘的寂静


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Empty Stadium Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

rained out --
the coos of pigeons
in the empty stadium

Baseball Haiku, 2007

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

下雨停賽 --
在空蕩盪球場中
的鴿子咕咕聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

下雨停赛 --
在空荡盪球场中
的鸽子咕咕声


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Mother Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

this cold morning
missing my mother
I set out to find her
by beginning to read
the novel she loved

Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka, 3, 2011

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

這個寒冷的早晨
想念媽媽
我步上找尋她的旅程
由開始閱讀
她所喜歡的小說

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

这个寒冷的早晨
想念妈妈
我步上找寻她的旅程
由开始阅读
她所喜欢的小说


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Fool Tanka by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

thinking what a fool
for love I've been
after a long sigh
I again pick up
Madame Bovary

Fire Pearls, Vol. 2, 2013

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

想到我一直是
愛情的傻瓜
長嘆一聲後，
我再次拿起小說
包法利夫人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

想到我一直是
爱情的傻瓜
长叹一声後，
我再次拿起小说
包法利夫人


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Floating World Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

This floating world --
how does it seem to you
dandelion puff

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

這個浮世 --
你如何看待它
蒲公英粉撲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

这个浮世 --
你如何看待它
蒲公英粉撲


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Winter Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Deep into winter
writing poems I can share
with no one   

First Prize, Key West Robert Frost Haiku Contest

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

進入深冬
寫些沒有人可以
分享的詩

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

进入深冬
写些没有人可以
分享的诗


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan recently won Third Prize in the 2014 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for her poem, "On a Berkshire Hill". Her book, Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, which won an R. H. Blyth Honorable Mention for Outstanding Books in Haiku Literature from the World Haiku Review in 2013, was selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

Butterfly Dream: Rocks Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

The two of us stumble
over the rocks
the river and I

Yale Anglers’ Journal

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我們兩人
被岩石絆倒
河流與我

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我们两人
被岩石绊倒
河流与我


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan is internationally known for her poetry in Japanese forms, including haiku, senryu, tanka and renku, which have been translated into numerous languages. Her awards include a Grand Prix Poetry Prize from the Atomic Bomb Memorial Committee, Kyoto, Japan, The R.H. Blyth Award from the World Haiku Society, the Harold G. Henderson Award, and First Place in both the Ukiah Haiku Festival Contest and in the Robert Frost Haiku Competition. She is   co-author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, published in hardcover by Kodansha International, with a Russian translation published by Sophia Press. and a paperback edition from Apocryphile Press. From 1991 through 1993 she was the Editor of Frogpond, the international journal of the Haiku Society of America.   

Butterfly Dream: Falling Snow Haiku by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

English Original

Slowly falling snow
little by little I learn
to forget you

White Lotus Anthology

Sylvia Forges-Ryan


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

緩緩飄落的雪花
一點一點地我學會
忘記你

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

缓缓飘落的雪花
一点一点地我学会
忘记你


Bio Sketch

Sylvia Forges-Ryan is internationally known for her poetry in Japanese forms, including haiku, senryu, tanka and renku, which have been translated into numerous languages. Her awards include a Grand Prix Poetry Prize from the Atomic Bomb Memorial Committee, Kyoto, Japan, The R.H. Blyth Award from the World Haiku Society, the Harold G. Henderson Award, and First Place in both the Ukiah Haiku Festival Contest and in the Robert Frost Haiku Competition. She is co-author of Take a Deep Breath: The Haiku Way to Inner Peace, published in hardcover by Kodansha International, with a Russian translation published by Sophia Press. and a paperback edition from Apocryphile Press. From 1991 through 1993 she was the Editor of Frogpond, the international journal of the Haiku Society of America.