[stylist] Another definition of Tanka

[Myrna Badgerow]

That's what I was about to say too Barbara. If I understand it correctly it is comparable to a syllable.    

Myrna

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 11, 2015, at 1:46 PM, Barbara HAMMEL via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> If I read it correctly, it is a syllable.
> Barbara
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 11, 2015, at 12:54, Eve Sanchez via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 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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>> 
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> 
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