[stylist] Another definition of Tanka

[Jackie Williams]

This perhaps contains some strategies for attempting a Tanka. 
 
 
Tanka
 
An unrhymed Japanese  poem consisting of five lines of 5/7/5/7/7 (5 kana in
the first line, 7 kana in  the second line, 5 kana in the third line, 7 kana
in the fourth line, and 7 kana  in the fifth line) totaling 31 kana. 
 
General thoughts on  Tanka
 
Tanka is generally written in two parts. The first three lines  is one part,
and the last two lines is the second part.
 
Tanka in English  is relatively new, so there are not as many guidelines as
with haiku and senryu.  You may include kigo (season words), but it is not
necessary.
 
One  exercise for beginners is to write a haiku and add two more lines.  
 
However, tanka is not really a longer haiku, and should not be thought  of
as such. While tanka does use many of the same elements such as
juxtaposition, concrete imagery, and is usually centered around nature,
tanka is  less constrictive.
 
You may use metaphor, simile, and many of the other  devices generally not
used in haiku or senryu. You may show a more personal and  emotional
viewpoint.
 
If tanka were seen in a book that contains only  Japanese poetic forms, they
would be easily recognizable. However, if the same  poems were seen in a
freestyle poetry book, they may be confused with any other  five line poem.
 
English tanka has not totally found its voice.  
 
Three ways to write tanka
 
There are three basic ways to  write tanka. 
 
1) Write 5 lines of 5/7/5/7/7. Just replace one syllable  for one kana. 
Most English speaking writers do not do this, as there are too  many vast
differences between the Japanese and English language.
 
You are  certainly free to do this, however, your tanka will be about
one-third longer  than the Japanese tanka. There are some Japanese who think
this is the only real  way to write tanka, but there are others who feel
that making English writers  adhere to the form serves no purpose.
 
2) Write 5 lines of 31 syllables or  LESS, following the
short/long/short/long/long form. This way, your tanka will  achieve the same
basic effect as the Japanese tanka.
 
3) Write 5 lines of  31 syllables or LESS, letting the poem dictate the line
length. You are free to  experiment more with this last option.
 
Everyone who writes tanka must  make their own personal decision on which
form they want to use. Some experiment  with all three forms and find their
own paths.  
 
 
Jackie Lee
 
Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz