Butterfly Dream: Death Anniversary Haiku

     Another post in NeverEnding Story. This time Chen-ou Liu selected one of my haiku from The Bluebird's Cry. His translation in Chinese may be read here.


tracing the cracks
on his leather chair . . .
death anniversary


Chen-ou's comment:

The unexpected yet emotionally power closing line lifts the poem out of the ordinary, and on a second reading, the opening image of "cracks on his leather chair" successfully carries emotional weight and symbolic significance.

Cool Announcement: The Bluebird’s Cry by Christine L. Villa

So grateful because of Chen-ou Liu's "Cool Announcement" helped boost my sales in January.

If you want to read more poems from my book, The Bluebird's Cry, here is the link.

http://neverendingstoryhaikutanka.blogspot.ca/2017/01/cool-announcement-bluebirds-cry-by.html#comment-form

One Man's Maple Moon: Ring Tanka

      Just what I need to jump-start my enthusiasm for the new year! NeverEnding Story has published today my "ring tanka" from my poetry book, The Bluebird's Cry, with Chen-ou Liu's Chinese translation. Reading the comment from my old-time favorite poet has lifted my spirits up.

by the fountain
with a ring encircling
my finger . . . 
all I knew then
was the word forever

See translation here.

Chen-ou Liu's comment:

Structurally and thematically speaking, the tanka is effectively framed by these emotionally significant and symbolically rich phrases, "by the fountain" and " the word forever." And the contrasts (presence vs absence, past vs present, happiest moment vs poignant remembrance, ...) between the two parts of the poem are heartwrenching.

White Clouds on NeverEnding Story

Another tanka published in Chen-ou's English-Chinese Bilingual Haiku and Tanka Blog, NeverEnding Story.
 

 

only remembering
how he loved me...
in a clear brook
white clouds gather
in my hands

 

Honorable Mention, 2014 Tanka Society of America Tanka Contest

 

 

See translations and comments here.
 

Old Guitar Tanka on NeverEnding Story

     What a special treat! I thought I only have one big news to share today, but just a few minutes ago, I received an email from Chen-ou Liu. He informed me that my old guitar tanka, the poem that won 2nd place at the Diogen Winter Haiku Contest 2012, is up today. 


winter moonlight
on his old guitar ...
once again 
I hear him sing
our favorite song

     Chen-ou's comment:

    The upper verse sets the thematic context while the tonal shift in the lower verse, combined with the effective use of "once again," enhances the emotionally suggestive power of the poem.

     To see Chen-ou's two Chinese translations under the section One Man's Maple Moon, click here. 

Evening Drizzle on NeverEnding Story

evening drizzle

notes from his guitar 

perfume the air

Haigaonline 12:2, December 2011

     Yesterday Chen-ou Liu published the above haiku on his new blog NeverEnding Story, particularly in the Butterfly Dream section, with two Chinese translations and his comment. 
     This haiku was also reprinted in four e-papers. 
     Poetry and Poetry Lovers, edited by Sweepy (A D Joyce)
     The Poetry Daily, edited by Govind Joshi
     The Poetry Daily, edited by My Blogworld
     The Poetry and Me Daily, edited by Poetry and Me
      

      If you want to submit your best published haiku or new work to Chen-ou, go to this link.