Saturday, September 14, 2013

One Man's Maple Moon: Fly Tanka by Johannes S. H. Bjerg

English Original

alone
for too long
(again)
I ask a fly
to fly silently

Johannes S. H. Bjerg


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

獨處
太久
(再一次)
我要求蒼蠅
靜靜地飛

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

独处
太久
(再一次)
我要求苍蝇
静静地飞


Bio Sketch

Born in 1957, Johannes S. H. Bjerg is a Dane writing in Danish & English simultaneously. Writing mainly (hai)ku. Main blog: 2 tongues / 2 tunger. Instigator and co-editor of Bones - a journal for contemporary haiku. Included in New Resonanse 8, Red Moon Press, 2013.Books: Penguins / Pingviner - 122 bilingual haiku (English and Danish) in 2011 through Cyberwit, India. Parallels, English language short verse, Yet To Be Named Free Press, England, 2013. Threads / Tråde bilingual haiku, Createspace 2013, Notes 10 11 -12 / Noter 10 11 -12, bilingual (solo) linked verse, Yet To Be Named Free Press, England, 2013. Paper Bell Lessons / Papirklokkebelæringerne, bilingual haiku, Createspace, 2013.

1 comment:

  1. The upper verse sets an emotive context while the lower verse skillfully indicates the speaker's state of mind.

    The use of () is emotionally effective and the contrasts between the fly and the speaker are poignant, adding psychological depth to the poem.

    ReplyDelete