PD30 Day 13: Writing a Tanka
September 13, 2008 by John Hewitt
Tanka is a Japanese poetic form that is closely related to haiku. It has been Americanized and given syllable counts that make it even more like haiku, but the syllable counts don’t truly translate from the Japanese, so they can be considered somewhat loose and optional. A tanka is meant to be a meditative poem that focuses on the external natural world and the internal emotions of the poet.
Shadows on my wall
They drift as the sun rises
Forming new patterns
I lie in bed and watch them
Teaching patience to my soul
As you can see, a tanka begins much like a haiku. There are five syllables, then seven, then five. The tanka ends with a couplet consisting of two seven syllable lines. As I said before though, syllable counts don’t truly match up with the original Japanese form, so don’t obsess over them. Just use the counts as a guideline. The first three lines, traditionally, focus on the natural world. The final couplet focuses on the poet’s internal world. One world reflects the other world.
The key to the tanka is that it is meant to be reflective, but not particularly sentimental. The briefness of the form is ideal for small moments, specific observations and minor realizations. It is the perfect form for a Saturday afternoon.
Today’s Poetry Prompt
Go outdoors and get some fresh air. Find a comfortable spot and write a poem. If you want to try a tanka (or a few) go for it.
Related links
- 30 Poems in 30 Days set for September (1.000)
- All About 30 Poems in 30 Days (1.000)
- PD30 Day 1: I Believe in Poetry (1.000)
- PD30 Day 2: Generally Be Specific (1.000)
- PD30 Day 3: A Review of Meter (1.000)
Contact John Hewitt
Writing Content and Web Consulting
Email: hewitt@poewar.comPhone: (520) 261-6104
LinkedIn: poewar
Twitter: @poewar
Facebook: pwar2
Hmm… I haven’t really written any tanka, but I can see how the two lines at the end could really help. I was going to ask if you had heard of cinquains, but when I did a search to confirm the syllable count, your article was the first one that came up
.
a clear rippling sheet
of water rolls down the road,
laps at the driveway
a storm the size of Texas
stopped before my mom’s threshold
–
hmm… needs work, but a fun experiment.
Changing wind and air
As seasons come and go
As green fades to brown
As the leaves die
I wilt from losing you.
Rivulets of rain
Fall to already drenched earth
Green leaves get greener
Rain can’t splash me in my perch
Neither can it help me grow
Maryellen Gradys last blog post..LORD, THERE’S JUST ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS THANKS TO SARAH PALIN
Full Moon at Picacho
The moon coasts along
Trailing over and under
The staggered mountains
Passing each car on the bridge
I wonder where we will go
full moom arisen
sunlight dances between time
full moon resending
my happiness at day break
amending sleepy a dreams
Silver Linings
Gently the skies part
to reveal a gleaming edge
against the black day.
I back away from the ledge
and bow down low to pray.