[stylist] Another definition of Tanka

[3rdeyeonly at gmail.com]

What is a kana?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 11, 2015, at 8:56 AM, Jackie Williams via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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       
> 
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