One Man's Maple Moon: Aftersound Tanka by Linda Jeannette Ward

English Original

it hasn’t stopped

where your hands

slid all over me

a deep humming

like the aftersound of bells

                                     

Scent of Jasmine and Brine, 2007

Linda Jeannette Ward 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

它沒有停止

當你的雙手

滑過我全身

深沉的嗡嗡聲

像鐘響的餘音

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

它没有停止

当你的双手

滑过我全身

深沉的嗡嗡声

像钟响的余音

Bio Sketch

Linda Jeannette Ward was best known for her tanka poetry, published in journals internationally, and included in two collections: A Frayed Red Thread (Clinging Vine Press, 2000) and Scent of Jasmine and Brine (Inkling Press, 2007). Her tanka won 2nd and 3rd prizes in the Tanka Society of America's annual competition, as well as four Tanka Splendor Awards. And her collection, a delicate dance of wings, received the Haiku Society of America's 2003 Merit Book Award for Best Book of Haibun. 

One Man's Maple Moon: Waves Tanka by Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo

English Original

sitting

with my toes curled

in the sand ...

alone not yet alone

I travel with the waves

Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

坐在沙灘上

把腳趾蜷縮

在沙裡 ...

獨自一人, 卻不孤單

我隨波逐流

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

坐在沙滩上

把脚趾蜷缩

在沙里 ...

独自一人, 却不孤单

我随波逐流

Bio Sketch

Lorelyn De la Cruz Arevalo is a self-published Filipino author of Twin deLights: Haikuna Matata and Hainaku! It's Pundemic! I am Balot. Acovida dito. Her poetry has been published in anthologies and journals like The Haiku Foundation, Presence, Mainichi, ESUJ-H, and Lothlorien Poetry Journal.

One Man's Maple Moon: Body Tanka by Keitha Keyes

English Original

no use now

for see-through gowns

or lacy undies --

the floor mirror tells 

the story of my body

Moonbathing, 25, 2021

Keitha Keyes 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

現在穿透視裝

或是蕾絲內衣

已經沒用了 --

一面落地鏡訴說

我身體的故事

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

现在穿透视装

或是蕾丝内衣

已经没用了 --

一面落地镜诉说

我身体的故事

Bio Sketch

Keitha Keyes lives in Sydney, surrounded by antique irons and ship models. She enjoys writing  tanka, haiku, senryu, cherita and related genres. Her work is published in many journals and anthologies in Australia and overseas.

One Man's Maple Moon: Petunias Tanka by Thelma Mariano

English Original

rows of petunias

all pink and evenly spaced

to think

my life could have been

that predictable

Thelma Mariano

 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一排排矮牽牛花

全是粉紅色, 間距均勻

想一想

我的人生本來可以

如此地可預測

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一排排矮牵牛花

全是粉红色, 间距均匀

想一想

我的人生本来可以

如此地可预测

Bio Sketch

Thelma Mariano is the author of Night Sky: a Selection of Tanka Poetry. She lives in Montreal and has published her tanka in literary journals as well as in various anthologies including Fire Pearls and Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka.

One Man's Maple Moon: Lover Tanka by Hortensia Anderson

English Original

by moonlight

through the screen window

my lover climbs

in the darkness

between the sheets

A Hundred Gourds, 1:1, December 2011 

Hortensia Anderson

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

月光下

穿過紗窗

在黑暗中

我的愛人爬進

兩張床單裡面

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

月光下

穿过纱窗

在黑暗中

我的爱人爬进

两张床单里面

Bio Sketch

Hortensia Anderson is the author of numerous chapbooks as well as a volume of poetry, Trust. Her work has been published in many oneline and print magazines. Her awards and other honors include: Best of 2002: Haiku in English, The Mainichi Daily News; 5th Annual Suruga Baika Winner; Honorable Mention, Mainichi Contest (2003); Tanka Splendor Awards (2003 and 2004); and Third Prize, Kusamakura (2004).

One Man's Maple Moon: Burden Tanka by Aya Yuhki

English Original

there is no way

but that one carries

one’s own burden

I walk

in the dimness of day

Eucalypt, 3, 2008

Aya Yuhki 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

別無選擇

只能背負

自己的重擔

我行走

在昏暗的白晝

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

别无选择

只能背负

自己的重担

我行走

在昏暗的白昼

Bio Sketch

Aya Yuhki was born and now lives in Tokyo. She started writing tanka more than thirty years ago and has expanded her interests to include free verse poetry, essay writing, and literary criticism. Aya Yuhki is Editor-in-Chief of The Tanka Journal published by the Japan Poets’ Society. Her works are featured on the homepage of the Japan Pen Club’s Electronic Library.

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.

One Man's Maple Moon: Laughter and Wit Tanka by Marian Olson

English Original 

something about him

opens the doors of my ears 

and I listen --

beyond his laughter and wit

a man who weeps

A Hundred Gourds, 1:2, March 2012

Marian Olson

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

他的性格特點

打開了我的耳朵

使我注意聆聽 --

除了他的笑聲和智慧之外

他是一個會哭的男人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

他的性格特点

打开了我的耳朵

使我注意聆听 --

除了他的笑声和智慧之外

他是一个会哭的男人

Bio Sketch

Marian Olson, non-fiction writer and widely published international poet, was the author of nine books of poetry, including the award winning haiku in Songs of the Chicken Yard, Desert Hours, Consider This, andMoondance.  Published in 2017, The Other and Kaleidoscope were her first books of tanka.

One Man's Maple Moon: Zigzag Path Tanka by Kirsty Karkow

English Original

the zigzag path

of indecision ...

squirrel tracks

across light snow

leading nowhere

A Hundred Gourds, 1:2, March 2012

Kirsty Karkow

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

猶豫不決

像似之字形的路徑

松鼠足跡

穿越過薄雪

通向無處可去之路

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

犹豫不决

像似之字形的路径

松鼠足迹

穿越过薄雪

通向无处可去之路

Bio Sketch

Kirsty Karkow lived in Waldoboro, Maine, where she wrote haiku, sijo, tanka, and other short forms. Lyrical, poignant, and spare, her poetry reflected a rich and deep sense of place and spirit. Her haiku have won the Mainichi and the R.H Blyth Award and placed in other contests. And she had two best-selling books in print: water poems: haiku, tanka and sijo and shorelines: haiku, haibun and tanka , published by Black Cat Press.

One Man's Maple Moon: Dragonfly's Wings Tanka by Pamela A. Babusci

English Original

skimming

the pond's surface

a dragonflys' wings --

you never touch me

anymore

Simply Haiku, 1:2, August 2003

Pamela A. Babusci

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

蜻蜓的翅膀

飛掠過

池塘表面 ...

你再也不

觸摸我

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

蜻蜓的翅膀

飞掠过

池塘表面 ...

你再也不

触摸我

 

Bio Sketch

Pamela A. Babusci  is an internationally award winning haiku, tanka poet and haiga artist. Some of her awards include: Museum of Haiku Literature Award, International Tanka Splendor Awards, First Place Yellow Moon Competition (Aust) tanka category,  First Place Kokako Tanka Competition,(NZ) First Place Saigyo Tanka Awards (US), Basho Festival Haiku Contests (Japan).  Pamela has illustrated several books, including: Full Moon Tide: The Best of Tanka Splendor Awards, Taboo Haiku, Chasing the Sun, Take Five: Best Contemporary Tanka, and A Thousand Reasons 2009. Pamela was the founder and now is the solo Editor of Moonbathing: a journal of women’s tanka; the first all women’s tanka journal in the US.

One Man's Maple Moon: Ring Marks Tanka by M. Kei

English Original

ring marks 

in the swollen knuckle ... 

a little more

middle age

this morning

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-Zine, 2012-13

M. Kei

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

腫脹手指關節

的戒指環狀痕跡 ...

今天早晨

看起來更像是

中年男人

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

肿胀手指关节

的戒指环状痕迹 ...

今天早晨

看起来更像是

中年男人

Bio Sketch

M. Kei is a tall ship sailor and award-winning poet who lives on Maryland’s Eastern shore. He is the editor of Atlas Poetica: A Journal of World Tanka. His most recent collection of poetry is January, A Tanka Diary. He is also the author of the award-winning gay Age of Sail adventure novels, Pirates of the Narrow Seas. He can be followed on Twitter @kujakupoet, or visit AtlasPoetica.org.

One Man's Maple Moon: Rock Pool Tanka by Carole Harrison

English Original

within a rock pool

windblown clouds and me

clinging

to the shape

of ourselves                                                                           

Moonbathing, 15, 2016

Carole Harrison 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

倒映在岩石水池中

風吹的雲彩和我

緊貼住

我們自己

的身形

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

倒映在岩石水池中

风吹的云彩和我

紧贴住

我们自己

的身形

Bio Sketch

Carole Harrison combines her love of art and nature with long distance walking and short form poetry. Her work has been published in Australian and International journals and anthologies. She lives on the South Coast of NSW, Australia, surrounded by remnant rainforest, cows and lots of colourful birdlife.

One Man's Maple Moon: Motorcycle Riders Tanka by David McMurray

English Original

Locking the cottage

the motorcycle riders

kick-start a trip down south

po-potato-potato

po-potato-potato

David McMurray 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

鎖上度假小屋

一群摩托車騎士們

開啟南下之旅

撲通撲通撲通的引擎聲

撲通撲通撲通的引擎聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

锁上度假小屋

一群摩托车骑士们

开启南下之旅

扑通扑通扑通的引擎声

扑通扑通扑通的引擎声

Bio Sketch

David McMurray edits the Asahi Haikuist Network. He lives in Japan, but travels 3 or 4 times a year to Taiwan to enjoying the food and festivals -- including the moon festival -- in Taipei and Kaoshiung.

One Man's Maple Moon: Summer Breeze Tanka by Joanne Morcom

English Original

hand in hand

we stroll by the river

a summer breeze

does the talking

for both of us

Gusts, 33, Spring/Summer 2021

Joanne Morcom

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

攜手

我們在河邊漫步

夏日微風

為我們倆

輕聲低語

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

携手

我们在河边漫步

夏日微风

为我们俩

轻声低语

Bio Sketch

Joanne Morcom is a poet, self-publisher, book reviewer, social worker, Certified Laughter Leader and Joyologist who lives in Calgary, Alberta.  Learn more at www.joannemorcom.ca

One Man's Maple Moon: Claw-Tipped Wind Tanka by Sonam Chhoki

English Original

there’s a hole 

in my heart

and all night

the claw-tipped wind 

is ripping the prayer flags

Eucalypt, 34, 2023

Sonam Chhoki 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

我的心頭

有一個洞

整夜

尖爪的大風

都在撕扯著祈禱旗

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

我的心头

有一个洞

整夜

尖爪的大风

都在撕扯着祈祷旗

Bio Sketch

Sonam Chhoki finds the Japanese short form poetry resonates with her Tibetan Buddhist upbringing.  She is inspired by her father, Sonam Gyamtsho, the architect of Bhutan's non-monastic modern education and by her mother, Chhoden Jangmu, who taught her: “Being a girl doesn’t mean you can’t do anything.” She is the principal editor, and co-editor of haibun for the United Haiku and Tanka Society journal, cattails.

One Man's Maple Moon: Spanish Afternoon Tanka by Larry Kimmel

English Original

her breast fits 

like a fruit in the curve 

of the small guitar --

and I would be her Picasso 

some Spanish afternoon 

Fire Pearls: Short Masterpieces of the Human Heart, 2006

Larry Kimmel

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

她的胸部

就像一個水果安適

在小吉他的曲線部分 ...

並且某個西班牙的下午

我會成為她的畢卡索

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

她的胸部

就像一个水果安适

在小吉他的曲线部分 ...

并且某个西班牙的下午

我会成为她的毕卡索

Bio Sketch

Larry Kimmel lives quietly in the hills of western Massachusetts.  His most recent books  are shards and dust (cherita), outer edges (tanka) and thunder and apple blossoms (haiku).

One Man's Maple Moon: Chick-A-Dee-Dee Tanka by Kozue Uzawa

English Original

a chickadee

singing chick-a-dee-dee

I take it easy

this tiring summer---

I skip my tap lessons

Gusts, 34, Fall/winter 2021

Kozue Uzawa

 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一隻山雀

快樂地不停歌唱

這個疲憊的夏天

我打算放鬆一下 --

逃掉了踢踏舞課

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一只山雀

快乐地不停歌唱

这个疲惫的夏天

我打算放松一下 --

逃掉了踢踏舞课

 

 

Bio Sketch

Kozue Uzawa is a retired university professor. She works as editor of the English tanka journal GUSTS. She composes tanka both in Japanese and English. She also translates Japanese tanka into English and co-published Ferris Wheel: 101 Modern and Contemporary Tanka (Boston: Cheng & Tsui, 2006), and Kaleidoscope: Selected Tanka of Shuji Terayama (Tokyo: Hokuseido Press, 2008). Ferris Wheel received the 2007 Donald Keene Translation Award for Japanese Literature from Columbia University.

One Man's Maple Moon: Truth Tanka by Kala Ramesh

English Original

truth lies

shrouded in Maya

and beneath the veil

once lifted

truth lies

Fire Pearls: Short Masterpieces of the Human Heart, 2006

Kala Ramesh 

Chinese Translation (Traditional) 

真相被籠罩

在瑪雅的陰影

一層面紗之下

一旦揭開

真理依然存在

Chinese Translation (Simplified) 

真相被笼罩

在玛雅的阴影

一层面纱之下

一旦揭开

真理依然存在

Bio Sketch

Kala Ramesh is the Founder and Director of Triveni Haikai India, the Founder and Managing Editor of haikuKATHA Journal, an anthologist, and an external faculty member of Symbiosis International University Pune, where she taught a 60-hour haikai course from 2012 to 2021 — a first in India. She has organised eight major haiku festivals and to bring haiku into everyday spaces, Kala has initiated several successful projects in India.

One Man's Maple Moon: Flesh Tanka by Sanford Goldstein

English Original

the flesh clings

tighter still

as if to tell me

this world is smell,

is touch

At the Hut of the Small Mind, 1992

Sanford Goldstein 

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

肉體

仍然緊貼在一起

彷彿在告訴我

這個世界充滿氣味,

一切都是關於觸摸

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

肉体

仍然紧贴在一起

仿佛在告诉我

这个世界充满气味,

一切都是关于触摸

Bio Sketch

Long ago, Sanford Goldstein wrote haiku, but decided to focus on tanka. His latest books, three in two years, have each said this would be his last. The Tanka Society of America renamed its international tanka contest for him in 2015; and he has been called the grandfather of tanka in English. 

One Man's Maple Moon: Dew Tanka by Naomi Beth Wakan

English Original

early morning 

the dew still resting

where it settled

would we could wake refreshed

to look at things in new ways

Now and Here, 2021

Naomi Beth Wakan

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

這個清晨

露水仍靜止

在原地

我們能夠醒來後精神煥發

以新的方式看待事物嗎

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

这个清晨

露水仍静止

在原地

我们能够醒来后精神焕发

以新的方式看待事物吗

Bio Sketch

Naomi Beth Wakan is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Nanaimo (2014–16) and the Federation of British Columbia Writer’s Inaugural Honorary Ambassador. She has published over fifty books. Her most recent book of essays, On the Arts, came out in 2020 (Shanti Arts). Her trilogy, The Way of Tanka, The Way of Haiku, and Poetry That Heals was published by Shanti Arts in 2019. Wakan is a member of The League of Canadian Poets, Haiku Canada, and Tanka Canada. She lives on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, the sculptor Elias Wakan.