[stylist] Another definition of Tanka
3rdeyeonly at gmail.com
3rdeyeonly at gmail.com
Tue Aug 11 17:53:15 UTC 2015
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
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://writers.nfb.org/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/3rdeyeonly%40gmail.com
More information about the Stylist
mailing list