Translated into Chinese by Chen-ou Liu
blood-veined leaf
on your upturned palm . . .
these life lines
The Zen Space, Autumn 2013
Chen-ou's comment:
The implied contrasts between the two parts of the haiku spark the reader's emotions and reflection.
the seeds
of forget-me-nots
I planted
in her mind's wilted garden
could not recall her blooming
Chrysanthemum, Number 14, October 2013
Chen-ou's comment:
Combined with personification, the use of inversion, thematically speaking, adds emotional weight and psychological depth to the poem. And the simile (the mind as a garden) employed in L 3&4 sharpens its poignancy.
In such a short space of five lines, Debbie emotionally effectively employs three different literary devices: personification, simile, and inversion.
