Christmas Eve ~ Butterfly Dream (Dec. 24, 2017) ~ with Chinese translation and a Commentary by Chen-ou Liu

Christmas Eve —
rise and fall of grandma’s rosary
during the bingo

Maria Laura Valente

Asahi Haikuist Network ~ The Asahi Shimbun ~ December 16, 2016 ~ edited by David McMurray

Chinese Translation (Traditional) by Chen-ou Liu for Butterfly Dream

平安夜 —
在賓果遊戲時間
奶奶的念珠上下起伏

Chinese Translation (Simplified) by Chen-ou Liu for Butterfly Dream

平安夜 —
在宾果游戏时间
奶奶的念珠上下起伏

Commentary by Chen-ou Liu

L1 establishes the thematic and emotional context while the collocation of rosary and bingo enhances the “hai” (comic)aspect of the poem.

This secular Christmas haiku reminds me of one of the recent Christmas tradition articles I’ve read:

“More People Are Celebrating Christmas Without Religion
From holy night to holly jolly Christmas,” accessed at http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/christmas-without-religion_us_5a3299b3e4b0bb42ac170ca9

Direct link to Chen-ou Liu’s blog NeverEnding Story

http://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.it/2017/12/butterfly-dream-christmas-eve-haiku-by.html

 

Autumn Starlight ~ Butterfly Dream (Sept. 30, 2017) ~ with Chinese translations and a Commentary by Chen-ou Liu

autumn starlight —
a drop of Moscato falls
on poetry

Maria Laura Valente

Asahi Haikuist Network ~ The Asahi Shimbun ~ November 18, 2016 ~ edited by David McMurray

Chinese Translation (Traditional) by Chen-ou Liu for Butterfly Dream

秋季星光 —
一滴莫斯卡托紅酒
落在詩集上

Chinese Translation (Simplified) by Chen-ou Liu for Butterfly Dream

秋季星光 —
一滴莫斯卡托紅酒
落在詩集上

Commentary by Chen-ou Liu

The visually and emotionally resonant juxtaposition and the unexpected yet thematically significant last line lift the haiku up a notch. Maria’s delicate haiku reminds me of Robert Louis Stevenson’s remark on the relationship between wine and poetry:

Wine is bottled poetry.

Direct link to Chen-ou Liu’s blog NeverEnding Story

https://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.it/2017/09/butterfly-dream-autumn-starlight-haiku.html