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linden blossoms
softly falling between
our silences—
we are but two strangers
sitting on the same bench
flori de tei
cad domol între
tăcerile noastre—
suntem doar doi străini
stând pe aceeaşi bancă
Steliana Cristina Voicu
Romania
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For First Place
I've selected this lovely tanka by Steliana Voicu from Romania which
is full of tension, and leaves an open-ended feeling for her readers. In
Japanese court poetry, there was and still is, a popular poetic device which
creates an anticipatory illusion after glimpsing another person, that they
might ultimately become a lover, and with whom waka/tanka may some day be
exchanged. Either this concept applies to Steliana's tanka, or possibly these
two strangers sitting on the same "metaphoric" bench are not
strangers at all, but already share a secret love.
Fleeting Words Contest Judge an'ya, USA
