Friday, August 26, 2016

One Man's Maple Moon: Black and White Tanka by Munira Judith Avinger

English Original

seeking the past
I look through old photos
outside my window
clouds snow bare trees
the world in black and white

Gusts, 11, Spring/Summer 2010

Munira Judith Avinger


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

為了尋找過去
我翻閱老舊照片
只見窗外
流雲白雪禿樹
這個黑白世界

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

为了寻找过去
我翻阅老旧照片
只见窗外
流云白雪秃树
这个黑白世界


Bio Sketch

Munira Judith Avinger is an author living in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. She has  published three bilingual poetry books, one novel and one memoir. She is also a mentor and  leader of the Dances of Universal Peace. For more information about her work, please visit www.munirabooks.com

1 comment:

  1. Modeled on traditional Japanese tanka, this heartfelt poem is made up of five poetic phrases ("five ku") and structured into two parts (Ls 1&2 and Ls 3-5).

    The opening statement resonates closely with the emotional point of the closing image, and on a second reading, evaluated in the context of this world of shades of gray, the phrase, "black and white," not only adds emotional weight to the poem, but also effectively carries symbolic significance.

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